Ghana - Politics 202 Election
Ghana is a constitutional democracy with a strong presidency and a unicameral 275-seat parliament. Presidential and parliamentary elections conducted in 2016 were peaceful, and domestic and international observers assessed them to be transparent, inclusive, and credible.
Significant human rights issues included: arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government or its agents; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; violence against journalists including assaults, death threats and one journalist shot and killed; censorship of a free press including arrests and the closure of two radio stations for ostensible licensing irregularities; corruption in all branches of government; and crimes of violence against women and girls, to which government negligence significantly contributed.
Independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. From January 2018 to May 2019, there were at least 11 cases of attacks on journalists. The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.
The June 2018 ouster of the electoral commission chairperson and the president’s subsequent filling of the EC with persons considered to be biased in favor of the ruling party raised questions about whether the body might be used to stifle voter registration in areas of opposition support. The EC’s efforts to register voters and conduct a December 2018 referendum on new regions met with mixed reactions and some allegations of malpractice.
In January 2019 violence between government security forces and alleged political vigilantes disrupted a by-election held to fill a parliamentary seat in the constituency of Ayawaso West Wuogon in Accra. Gunfire erupted near a polling station and the home of the opposition candidate, leaving 18 persons injured. The opposition candidate pulled out of the race on the day of the election in response to the incident, and the Electoral Commission (EC) subsequently announced that the NPP candidate had won the election.
Political newcomers have it tough in a country where long-established families dominate the polls. The top presidential candidates in the 07 December 2020 election are all offspring of Ghana's independence-era "Big Six." The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on were almost impossible to ignore. Radio stations are reporting nonstop on scheduled campaign events ahead of the vote. Experts are poring over incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo's four-year term in office — various surveys put the 76-year-old slightly ahead of his challenger, John Mahama. Debates over the challenges that the new government and parliament will face dominated discussions.
The top candidates — both of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) — hail from long-established political families. Portraits of the so-called "Big Six" who led Ghana to independence in 1957 - Kwame Nkrumah, Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi Lamptey, William Ofori Atta, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ebenezer Ako Adjei and Joseph Boakye Danquah - grace every Ghanaian cedi bill.
But family ties don't necessarily mean a democracy is weak, or even that it's in danger. The most important thing is that everyone has the same chance to run for political office. The NPP and NDC are too large for "only members from one family or another to be given positions within the party or the elected government. People without elite backgrounds can also easily make it to the top in politics," she told DW. Of course, this requires strategic contacts and good positioning within their own party.
Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo and former president John Mahama as front-runners. Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing off against his predecessor, John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC). Mahama, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), bested Akufo-Addo and his New Patriot Party (NPP) in 2012 but lost in 2016. Akufo-Addo’s party has campaigned mainly on his education initiatives, while Mahama’s focused on job creation and attacking his opponent's record on corruption. But the familiar faces have also made voter apathy an issue.
Pre-election survey shows Ghanaians are concerned about issues such as improving infrastructure and employment. The survey pointed to positive responses on the ruling NPP’s handling of COVID-19, power supplies and education. But the public was less impressed with Akufo-Addo’s record on inflation, inequality and corruption. Mahama attacked Akufo-Addo, alleging corruption and insufficient job creation.
But risk consulting group Songhai Advisory’s Kobi Annan says both men have underperformed in office. "It's a difficult choice for a lot of people. Neither of them have performed fantastically during their terms of office, and I think it will come down to primarily sentiments around things like education, corruption, job creation. I think job creation and education in particular - those affect more people day-to-day than corruption does," said Annan.
Under Mahama’s presidency, there was an energy crisis, corruption scandals and a currency devaluation. In 2016, the NPP won by about 1 million votes and with high expectations for Akufo-Addo to stamp out corruption. But in the weeks leading up to the current election, the opposition NDC made corruption allegations against Akufo-Addo. Ghana’s anti-corruption special prosecutor resigned just three weeks before the election, alleging political interference. While Akufo-Addo denies any corruption in his administration, analysts say it’s hard to know if the claims will impact the vote.
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