Political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on reviving the economy.

According to him, the ruling party must keep its pulse on addressing the challenges of the economy and not regard the tension within the NDC camp as a good sign of a win for the party in the 2024 election. He revealed that it’s too early to suggest that it’s playing into the incumbent’s favor.

Dr Boateng stated that although there may be a semblance of disunity within the NDC, the key issue is how the party is able to resolve it, as it largely proves its strength. He explained that the party’s ability to also “surmount crucial, critical challenges” that come up remains pertinent as it determines whether it plays into the hands of political opponents or not.

“The crucial challenge that the NPP faces is the economy. When people have their [government] doing absolutely nothing, they will not clap for them. These challenges in the NDC will not take away the economic difficulties in the country. The government is trying in vain to rope in individual bonds and stuff like that, the challenges in the NDC today is simply not going to take these issues away.”
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Dr Boateng opined that government has a major difficulty to confront and its candor in telling Ghanaians that the “best hands” in President Akufo-Addo’s government was not deployed and that they still have some people within the party who have some “sort of magic wand to turn the fortunes” of the country around is essential. This, he indicated, will be a hard truth for the NPP to tell Ghanaians.

“So, I don’t think they would want to see what is happening in the NDC as anything that they can rejoice over.”
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Commenting on the impact of the tension within the NDC following the reshuffling of its leadership, Dr Boateng revealed that he does not foresee the former minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and the other outgone leaders causing trouble. He stated that these persons equally have their own political interest for the 2024 elections and will not put it in a state of jeopardy.

The political scientist emphasized that the affected persons will not stretch the issue to a point where the fortunes of the NDC in 2024 election will be affected.

“Why is Haruna in politics, he would like to be in government… Their teeming supporters, why do they throw their support behind them and rally behind them. Are they just interested in doing that? They want to have a fair of the national cake and they think they will achieve this with their leaders in government. So, these crucial interests that all of them have in common is what is going to enable all of them to find an amicable solution to this; it is not playing into the hands of the NPP.”
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Impact of supporters reaction to leadership shake-up

On his part, the dean of the faculty of arts at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka, revealed that the disgruntled posture of NDC supporters is expected, especially as people have their interests and also who they decide to support. He underscored that the reaction may not necessarily pose a threat to the party’s fortunes.

“I would have been surprised if there wasn’t any reaction from Haruna Iddrisu’s constituency where his people supporting so much [will not] express concerns about the removal of him. I don’t think it’s going to play out that critically to the extent that it’s going to affect the party in terms of voting patterns and all that. I can’t foresee that but it’s possible.”
Prof Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka

Prof Kantanka opined that considering the interest at stake in 2024, supporters will eventually come together to rally for a win for the party. On a different breath, he stated that the NPP shouldn’t be happy about the situation, questioning how far it will go to affect the fortunes of the NDC in 2024.

“I don’t think that should be the focus. The focus of the NPP should be about working hard, doing the things Ghanaians want them to do and governing as they want to see. This is politics, so it is normal for people to take advantage of cracks in your opponent’s side. Of course, your blunder is a positive gain if you’re in opposition.”
Prof Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka