2024 General Elections in Ghana: The Heat is on
In fifteen months, Ghana will be heading for general elections and the climate is lively with political activity. The government is under the weight of assessment and examination by both the opposition and supporters at the same time.
Also in the works are the selective processes of choosing flag bearers and prospective members of parliament, and the toll on government as with the opposition is heavy with stress. Meanwhile internal shenanigans in the ruling party are shaking an otherwise dull political moment into action. Indubitably, the government is reeling under economic pressure, the ruling party is in internal political turmoil, and the country is in social disorder. The flagging economy has impoverished the Ghanaian people notwithstanding an IMF US3 billion bailout.
Civil action at times like these is not uncommon in Ghana, especially with the economy as it is now. The global economy is in the doldrums, and the traffic to the IMF and the World Bank for relief is not slowing down. Not even the IMF bailout has brought enough relief to the Ghanaian economy because the harm already done cannot be easily redeemed.
We agree with the impact of Covid-19 and the Russian Ukraine war as having devastated most economies, including the Ghanaian economy. The sociopolitical impact is equally damning. But how can people fired from their jobs be appeased? How long will the people of Ghana be able to withstand the economic meltdown and what is government doing to reduce the shocking blows?
For many Ghanaians, however, interventions introduced by government to assuage the effects of the hardships have had little or no impact. The fee-free senior high school education policy introduced by the government alongside the National Health Insurance Scheme as well as improved agricultural production making food available even if barely affordable, are among many that are barely impacting.
Other than that, several people are out of work. Per IMF conditionalities, many more are likely to be laid off while job openings are stanched, leaving many school leavers disappointed. In particular the youth are the most affected and, as is usually the case, are seeking to find the proverbial greener pastures in other countries where conditions are no better.
Despite the dim picture painted by the Ghanaian economy, the Ghana Statistical Service concludes that the economy grew 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2023. As to whether the growth is impactful has not been encouraging as a pressure group #OccupyJulorbilHouse protested, to express their concerns about issues of corruption and economic mismanagement which have brought untold hardships to many Ghanaians. And indeed, the president agrees that there is hardship in the country.
Both observers and critics contend that the ruling government’s boastful hope of “breaking the eight” with perceptions of corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as a poor job market for the youths will be tough to sell to the electorate.
Meanwhile it is normal and not unusual for the opposition to cash in on the misfortunes of the ruling government at times like these. A plan by the NDC minority in Parliament to protest against the Bank of Ghana since early September has been postponed many times owing to security concerns.
So far, the demonstration has not started yet but press conferences have been held by the party to press its case against issues of corruption and misappropriation at the central bank. The opposition is going into the elections with a not-so-clear message other than corruption at the Jubilee House. In Ghana it is customary to tag governments on their way out as corrupt.
The ruling NPP is scheduled to hold its Presidential Primaries on November 4 following the super-delegates conference on held on August 26, which was won by Vice President Dr. Muhamadu Bawumia. Out of the five candidates former Minister of Trade and Industry Alan John Kyeremateng dropped out and has eventually resigned his membership of the party as he decided to go independent in the General Elections.
Responses and interpretations have been mottled at best. This publication does not seek to pronounce a verdict on the event. After all, Mr. Kyeremateng has done this before in 2008 when he resigned under similar circumstances, but the party prevailed even though it lost the 2008 elections. The NPP was, however, returned to office eight years later.
As a result of coups d’état in the three francophone ECOWAS countries of Guinea, Mali and Niger, some have muted the idea of coup in Ghana and it seems to gain some traction. We do not want to conform to the thought process that what happens in Las Vegas must also be replicated in Atlantic City.
Ghanaian experience with military interventions has not been pleasant and indeed innovative. Our political development in the Fourth Republic has been more progressive and accommodating of democratic norms and systems than military administrations.
Fifteen months to the next general elections is not very far, and our expectations are an exercise in maturity. Eight successful elections in the Fourth Republic puts Ghana in a place of pride in West Africa as having achieved maturity in our democratic endeavors.
The political climate is heating up and the two main parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), together with the rest in the mix are girding up for next year’s general and presidential elections.
Amandla appeals for peace and a patriotic campaign season. We charge all the running political parties to give Ghanaians something worthy to vote for.
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