NDC’s victory calls for unity, rebuilding — Analysts

Four political analysts have described the decisive win by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections as an indication that Ghanaian voters are ready to use their thumb as a key accountability tool to change who governs the country.

They said the projected majority win in Parliament by the NDC must not be used as a tool by the executive, and underscored the importance of inclusivity, a need to minimise political division and involve all Ghanaians in rebuilding the country.

They further attributed the win to widespread dissatisfaction with the country's economic conditions and the perception of corruption in government.

The four political watchers are a governance expert, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah; the Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. Seidu Alidu; the Director of the Democracy Project, Dr John Osae-Kwapong, and a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Gilbert Arhinful Aidoo.

Dissatisfaction

"The popular sentiment against the existing conditions in the country, basically economic, drove the desire for change," Prof. Agyeman-Duah, a former United Nations Governance Advisor, said, adding: "The teeming young unemployed people and their anxiety over their future made a change in government imperative".

He also stressed that the NDC became an attractive alternative due to the absence of a third party in the country.

"If people are disappointed by one of the dominant parties, they naturally turn to the other party," he said.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, said the low voter turnout rate of around 50-55 per cent, also indicated a general disaffection with the current political system.

“With the NDC taking over a country facing significant economic challenges, including a near-bankrupt economy and IMF mentorship, expectations will be high for the new government,” he said, adding that “whether they can perform better or not, I don't know”.

He emphasised the importance of inclusivity and minimising political division, urging the NDC to involve all Ghanaians in rebuilding the country.

"The defeat of the NPP should not mean excluding them completely," he said.

Regarding the parliamentary defeat, Prof. Agyeman-Duah noted that it could enable the new government to have full cooperation from Parliament, but he also cautioned against Parliament becoming a tool for the Executive.

"They should be able to scrutinise government policies and play their role effectively," he said.

Performance

Prof. Alidu, for his part, said the NDC’s overwhelming win was a clear indication of Ghanaians' dissatisfaction with the incumbent government's performance.

"Every election is a census on the performance of the incumbent government," Prof. Alidu said, adding that "Ghanaians have assessed the performance of the incumbent government, and the outcome is a clear message of discontent."

“The incumbent government's handling of the economy was a major factor in the election outcome. The management of the economy was a bigger issue.

The level of inflation, the exchange rate and the introduction of nuisance taxes such as the E-Levy and COVID-19 Levy all affected people's livelihoods," he said.

Prof. Alidu also emphasised the importance of honesty and transparency in governance, saying: "When you're facing crises, the government's attitude towards the people has to be honest.

The people will definitely send you a message if you undermine their interests".

“The NDC's parliamentary victory, with a projected 185 seats at the least, is also seen as a significant mandate for the incoming government. It's a resounding victory," Prof. Alidu said.

"Ghanaians were tired of what was happening in Parliament, and they've given the NDC a clear majority," he added.

With this majority, Prof. Seidu urged the NDC to use its power positively, bring in the needed reforms, alleviate poverty and bridge the inequality gap.

"They have an overwhelming mandate and legitimacy to take this government to a different level," he said.

Factors

Dr Osae-Kwapong said NDC’s overwhelming win could be attributed to three key factors, namely the country's economic challenges, growing perception of corruption in government, and the party's effective campaigning.

"The economy was a major issue," Dr Osae-Kwapong explained, adding: "Ghanaians were not satisfied with how the government was addressing the economic challenges, which were exacerbated by external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war".

The perception of corruption in government also played a significant role in the election outcome, Dr Osae-Kwapong noted.

"The public's faith in the government's willingness to fight corruption was undermined, and voters felt that a change in government was necessary to ensure accountability," he said.

Dr Osae-Kwapong added that the NDC's campaign strategy also deserved credit for the party's landslide victory.

"The party dealt with misinformation and disinformation promptly, and they took control of defining their message and candidate, unlike in 2016," he said.

He observed that the decisive victory marked a significant shift in the political landscape, adding: "The Ghanaian voter has demonstrated their readiness to use voting as a key accountability tool, making changes to the political landscape whenever necessary".

Strategic decisions

Mr Arhinful Aidoo said the NDC's win was driven by a combination of strategic decisions and socio-economic realities.

"The NDC's flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, leveraged his track record and statesmanship to reassure Ghanaians of a steady leadership capable of addressing the nation's challenges," Mr Aidoo explained.

“Mahama's experience and pragmatic approach were seen as key to stabilising the economy and restoring public trust in governance,” he said.

“The NDC's campaign strategy also played a crucial role in their victory. By emphasising accountability, inclusive governance and a focus on rebuilding the economy, the party resonated with struggling households and appealed to the youth and first-time voters,” Mr Aidoo said.

"The party's messaging was both relatable and aspirational, effectively outmanoeuvring the NPP's campaign," he noted.

“The victory presents the party with an opportunity to meet heightened expectations while navigating complex economic and political issues.

For the NPP, this defeat serves as a moment of reckoning, necessitating reforms, a new leadership, and a reimagined strategy to regain public trust,” he said.