Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, has remarked that Ghanaian politicians may find themselves at a disadvantage as they continue to spread false narratives.
According to Dankwah, the Ghanaian electorate has evolved significantly, becoming far more sophisticated and discerning than many politicians might anticipate.
This growing political awareness, he noted, extends even to the core supporters of the major political parties, who are now more critical and analytical of the information they receive.
“I am grateful to Allah for the years I spent studying [and] observing how politics is done in non-religious countries such as Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
“The dishonesty of some of our politicians in this country is shocking beyond belief especially as we claim to be religious”.
Mussa Dankwah
Dankwah suggested that this heightened level of discernment among voters challenges the traditional tactics of misinformation and propaganda.
Accordingly, politicians can no longer assume that their statements will be accepted without scrutiny.
Instead, voters are increasingly demanding accountability, transparency, and truthfulness, signaling a shift towards a more informed and engaged electorate.
This trend, he argued, could have profound implications for the political landscape, as it forces politicians to rethink their strategies and engage with the public in more genuine and substantive ways.
Dankwah further expressed concern that the actions and attitudes of politicians are posing a significant threat to the health of Ghana’s democracy.
He argued that when politicians persist in spreading falsehoods, engaging in misinformation, and prioritizing short-term political gains over the long-term well-being of the country, they undermine the very principles of democracy.
According to Dankwah, such conduct risks turning the democratic process into a mere performance, where the true needs and aspirations of the people are overshadowed by political maneuvering.
Politicians Urged to Restore Credibility Through Honesty
Furthermore, Mussa Dankwah emphasized that Ghana’s politicians have a crucial responsibility to restore their credibility by embracing honesty and sincerity in their interactions with the people.
He urged that political leaders must shift away from manipulative tactics and instead engage with the public in a genuine and transparent manner.
He stressed that, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it may be, politicians must adopt a stance of humility in their communication.
This, Dankwah believes, is the path toward mending the strained relationship between political leaders and the public, ultimately strengthening the country’s democratic foundations.
“The voters are increasingly seeing our politicians as very dishonest and least trusted and that is putting our democracy at risk. This was part of the reasons we witnessed lower voter turnout.
“I hope we all witnessed the loud cheering of the military leader of Burkina Faso. I need to say no more”.
Mussa Dankwah
Meanwhile, Dankwah also pointed out a striking shift in public sentiment, highlighting that during the ECOWAS threat to intervene militarily in Niger following the coup d’état, over 65% of Ghanaians expressed opposition to such a move.
He underscored that this reaction is indicative of a broader sense of disillusionment among the public regarding regional political interventions.
Additionally, he noted that nearly 50% of Ghanaians, under certain circumstances, expressed sympathy for military takeovers, signaling a significant shift in the way citizens perceive governance and leadership in the region.
This, Dankwah argued, is a reflection of the growing dissatisfaction with the current political system and the increasing frustration with political leaders who fail to meet the expectations of the people.
Such attitudes, he warned, could have serious implications for the stability of Ghana’s democracy if political leaders do not address the underlying issues of governance, accountability, and the general well-being of the populace.
The survey results, he suggested, serve as a stark reminder that politicians must work harder to regain the trust and confidence of the public, or risk further alienating the electorate.
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