As Ghanaians gear up for the presidential elections in December, it is impossible to ignore the surge in the number of candidates aspiring to lead the country in such economic distress. This year’s presidential ballot has a record-breaking 39 candidates, in contrast to previous polls that featured 12 contenders in 2020 and seven in 2016. What prompted the sudden rise in nominations? Is it a response to economic challenges, or does it indicate a heightened civic and political engagement? Considering Ghana’s socio-political landscape and its influence on the average citizen, it is imperative to examine the factors contributing to this increase.
What factors contributed to the rise of presidential candidates this year?
A Damsel in Distress: Are Aspirants Seeking to Be the Change They Desire?
The World Bank outlook predicts that Ghana’s macroeconomic indicators will remain weak over the next few years, with growth likely staying low at 2.8% because of ongoing fiscal consolidation, high inflation rates, high interest rates, and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. These factors may slow down private spending and investment, limiting growth in the non-extractive sector.
Ghana continues to face numerous economic challenges, including a high inflation rate of 20.4%, a debt burden of GH₵742.0 billion, currency depreciation and energy shortages, and high electricity tariffs that impede growth and increase business costs.
There is no doubt that the country’s economic predicament has a substantial impact on the current political climate. Many citizens see this as an opportunity to propose an alternative to the governing government’s policies while capitalising on people’s dissatisfaction. The 2020 elections focused on post-pandemic economic recovery efforts, with conflicting policies for economic recovery and transformation given by the incumbent president and the opposing party’s leader. We have observed an increase in mistrust towards the government among citizens who believe the government has failed to steer the economy toward growth and are seeking an alternative opportunity to do things differently. This group of people believe it is time for a change in leadership.
Is Expanding Civic Engagement Fueling a Rise in Presidential Candidates?
Amidst these economic challenges, one must not disregard Ghana’s expanding civic space and rich democratic values. Civil groups have played an integral role in strengthening democratic principles in Ghana. Over the past three years, BudgIT has been instrumental in expanding civic awareness, driving civic education, and engaging the public in the annual national budget process. We have established four youth clubs in national colleges and universities, attracting over 2,000 members, engaging in over 30 community activities, and reaching out to 100k citizens through traditional and social media.
We are also in the process of launching a revolutionary project tracking tool, Tracka, tailored explicitly to facilitating citizen access to budgetary information and project updates on government-funded initiatives and projects across the country through a team of trained Regional Tracking Officers (RTOs) and Community Champions.
We are making active citizenship cool again, and we have observed a substantial increase in Ghanaians’ engagement in political discourse and discussions through various channels, including X Spaces, online town hall meetings, and surveys. These interventions allow citizens to hold politicians accountable and demand good governance.
Ghana has gradually become one of the most stable and robust democracies in Africa since the country’s return to multiparty democracy in 1992. The Freedom House Report characterises Ghana as a “free country.” It consistently ranks high in continental and international indices that evaluate political freedoms and civil liberties. Could increased civic engagement explain the rise in presidential candidates? Could it be a result of the Ghanaian electorate’s adoption of technology, increasing access to participatory democracy, and making it more inclusive for less popular aspirants to run without reliance on major party support?
An Increasing Public Mistrust in the Government?
There is increasing dissatisfaction with the two primary political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Despite their long-standing dominance, there is a perception that these parties have not effectively addressed the country’s most pressing issues. Therefore, the 2024 elections allow less popular party candidates to challenge the status quo and provide fresh perspectives to address Ghana’s changing needs. While there is noticeable political party fragmentation, as evidenced by the increased number of registered political parties and an opportunity to explore unique political perspectives and agendas, we must also be wary of independent candidates running for prestige and fame associated with the president’s office or other political appointments.
The proliferation of candidates may be attributed to the convenience of establishing political parties and the subsequent political fragmentation. As a result of the increased number of registered political parties, each representing a unique set of political perspectives and agendas, a greater number of candidates are emerging, each asserting they have innovative solutions to the nation’s problems.
What Implications Does This Have for Ghanaians?
On a positive note, diverse candidates can enrich the democratic process by offering voters a broad spectrum of ideas and perspectives. This vibrant competition may lead to fresh policy initiatives as candidates strive to win over voters with comprehensive and practical proposals. However, given the sheer number of candidates, there are valid concerns about potential voter fatigue and uncertainty, which could lead to fragmented election results and necessitate a runoff, causing instability.
Ultimately, Ghanaians seek candidates who can articulate concrete and practical solutions to the country’s economic, health, education, and infrastructure challenges. This election highlights the deepening of Ghana’s democratic culture and the citizens’ growing involvement in the political process. As Ghanaians navigate this pivotal electoral season, they must carefully evaluate the plethora of candidates to determine who is best positioned to lead the country forward.
References
The Freedom House Report: Ghana
Ghana CPI Inflation August 2024
2024-Mid-Year-Fiscal-Policy-Review.pdf (mofep.gov.gh)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw88xx325n7o