POLITICS IN GHANA

 Politics, according to the Oxford Dictionary, refers to the activities related to the governing of a country or territory, particularly the dispute between dominant parties. It may also be defined as the actions involved with group decision-making. Politics is also defined by Merriam-Webster as the act of leading or influencing governmental policy.

A free and fought election is increasingly gaining traction in Africa, and the continent is seeing a relatively seamless transition of power. Ghana is an African country that has successfully transitioned its administration following many coups in the previous 30 years. 1992 is one of the most momentous years in the history of Ghana, for it's the year when the first election in the 4th republic was conducted.

Ghana is a multi-party democracy. Nonetheless, two major political parties dominate the country: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Each of these parties has its philosophy that governs its activities. A political party can come to power if voters vote for it. Yet, no political party has been able to maintain power for more than eight years throughout the history of the Fourth Republic. A presidential candidate may serve just two terms, although legislative candidates may serve an unlimited number of terms. Ghana holds elections every four years. This comes at a high price for both the person and the state. To gain the party's primary nomination and contest in the parliamentary election in their constituency, candidates are required to raise an average of GH389,803 (about US$85,000). As a result, politics in Ghana is limited to the privileged and rich. As a result, the electorate is more concerned with recouping their investments than with helping the country. In Ghana, the election is a "winner-take-all" situation. As a result, the winning party has sole authority to designate ministers, award contracts, and appoint leaders/managers in several prestigious state enterprises. Most individuals appointed are those who contributed financially to the party's rise to power, rather than those chosen based on talent or aptitude. Political promises, political party identification, and ethnic groupings all influence how people vote for political parties. For example, the NPP is regarded to be Ashanti-based, and therefore its stronghold. Voters and northerners are thought to support the NDC. The Central and Greater Accra Regions are swing districts in which either of these parties might win. Many of the parties' promises are frequently broken since they are unrealistic and made just to attract votes.

In a word, politics in Ghana has lost its mission and has thus become the scourge of the nation's progress since it has become a profitable route into which individuals enter to enrich themselves. Citizens are losing faith in their leaders because of the way politics is conducted in Ghana.

References

C. A., Mills (2018). Politics, policy, and implementation: The ‘Ghanaian Paradox’. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/07/18/politics-policy-and-implementation-the-ghanaian-paradox/

https://www.wfd.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Cost_Of_Politics_Ghana.pdf