A post-election survey conducted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has revealed that 11.1% of voters in the 2024 general elections selected their candidates based on monetary inducements or similar incentives.
The study, titled “Stocktaking Ghana’s Democracy: Voter Behaviour and Political Participation,” was presented by Dr. Joseph A. Darmoe, Director of Programmes at KAS and Senior Lecturer at GIMPA. He emphasized that the findings raise significant concerns about the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes.
“This shows that inducement still plays a role in shaping voter behaviour in Ghana,” Dr. Darmoe noted, cautioning that such practices risk undermining electoral accountability and democratic trust.
Key Findings:
• Monetary Influence: 11.1% of voters admitted to choosing candidates due to financial inducements.
• Party Affiliation: 26.6% voted based on party loyalty.
• Policy and Campaign Messages: 17.4% were influenced by policies or campaign messages.
• Candidate Personality: 16.2% considered the personal attributes of candidates.
• Development Projects: 12.3% based their decisions on development initiatives.
• Ethnicity: 6.4% were influenced by ethnic considerations.
• Religious Affiliation: 1.8% cited religious reasons.
• Family or Peer Influence: 4.6% were swayed by family or peers.
• Tradition: 1.3% voted based on traditional factors.
These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of voter decision-making in Ghana, with a significant portion still susceptible to financial inducements.
Broader Context:
The issue of vote-buying is not isolated. A separate survey by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in October 2024 indicated that 64.3% of voters believe vote-buying influences election outcomes. Additionally, 17.8% admitted they would consider accepting incentives before casting their votes.
The NCCE report also highlighted that poverty and economic vulnerability are primary drivers behind vote-buying, with regional variations in awareness and prevalence. For instance, the Western North region recorded the highest rate of voters approached with incentives at 27.9%.
Implications for Ghana’s Democracy:
The persistence of vote-buying practices poses a threat to the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes. It undermines the principle of free and fair elections and can erode public trust in the electoral system. Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the electorate, to promote transparency, accountability, and voter education.
For more detailed insights and updates, visit multicdbonline.com.
#multicdbonline #mebroni #blowuptv #multicdbworld