Dr. Edem Salomey
A recent Afrobarometer survey has revealed that 58% of Ghanaians are inclined to vote for presidential and parliamentary candidates from the same political party in the upcoming December 7 elections.
In contrast, only 15% indicated they would choose candidates from different parties.
The survey, conducted between August 5 and August 22 2024, was presented by Dr. Edem Salomey, Director of Research at the Centre for Democratic Governance (CDD-Ghana), during a press conference in Accra on Friday.
Key findings from the survey highlighted that honesty (90%), character (88%), and campaign promises (59%) are the most significant factors influencing voters’ choices.
Trust in institutions varied significantly, with the Ghana Armed Forces, religious leaders, traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations (CSOs) being the most trusted.
Conversely, institutions such as the presidency, courts, Electoral Commission (EC), police, opposition parties, and Members of Parliament (MPs) ranked among the least trusted, receiving trust ratings of only 14%, 13%, 11%, 10%, 9%, and 5%, respectively.
Additionally, public sentiment regarding the role of opposition parties has shifted. The percentage of citizens believing opposition parties should hold the government accountable dropped from 41% in 2022 to 33% this year.
Conversely, those advocating cooperation between political parties and the government rose from 57% in 2022 to 66% this year.
During a panel discussion following the survey’s release, the Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mary Awelena Addah, expressed concern over the findings, emphasising their alignment with ongoing media reports and personal experiences related to corruption.
She advocated incorporating CSO recommendations into government policies to combat corruption and protect whistleblowers.
Democratic and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, stressed the need for effective democratic systems that resonate with citizens.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke