As Ghana’s election season reaches its crescendo, the familiar spectacle of politicians wooing voters with grand promises and charm has begun.
In Ghana, this familiar public show unfolds every four years when it is time for accountability and elections.
Some politicians who disappear after securing the mandate to lead suddenly reappear with grand manifestos and public engagements, vying for the hearts and votes of the electorate.
You might think it would be a tough sell, but these savvy leaders have a few tricks up their sleeves.
This article explores the public display Ghanaian politicians use to woo voters in every political season.
With elections just around the corner, politicians in Ghana are racing against time to complete abandoned projects, leaving many questioning the sincerity of their efforts.
In a surprising turn of events, several high-profile projects left to gather dust for years are suddenly being completed,
Roads, bridges, hospitals and schools are now popping up after years of construction hiatus.
“It’s like magic,” said Ama Owusu, a resident of Amasaman.
“One day, the road is abandoned, and the next, it’s being paved. It’s clear they’re trying to win our votes,” she added.
However, some government officials argue that the infrastructural completions are the results of careful planning and prioritization.
To connect with voters and win their trust, politicians in Ghana are taking a unique approach, to the extent of engaging in domestic chores for residents.
From pounding fufu to washing clothes, politicians are rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty.
The move is seen as an attempt to show that they are in touch with the daily struggles of ordinary Ghanaians.
While some have praised the move as a genuine attempt to connect with voters, others have criticized it as a publicity stunt.
“It’s all about getting votes,” said Kwame Boateng, a resident of Odododiodio.
“They’ll forget about us once the elections are over,” he added.
In the video below, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Mike Oquaye Junior, is seen helping a constituent to do her laundry.
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The latest tactic is spending quality time with the electorate in their neighbourhoods.
From sipping tea with pensioners to playing football with youth, politicians are moving from door-to-door to win hearts and minds.
The move is an attempt to show that they understand the needs and concerns of ordinary Ghanaians.
These tricks are not new, as the then-presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, was seen many times eating together from the same bowl ahead of the 2016 elections.
He won the polls and was retained in 2020 to continue his mandate as President of Ghana.
Many Ghanaians do not trust politicians and view their moves as pure deception.
Ama Mensah, the politicians “will forget about us once the elections are over”.
In the video below, the Vice President who doubles as the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was captured spending quality time with a disabled electorate on one of his campaign tours.
The New Patroitic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan can also be seen in the video below eating with a vulganizer and engaging with her constituency members during one of her campaign tours.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, in a bid to connect with her constituents on a more personal level, rolled up her sleeves and took on the role of a washing bay attendant during one of her constituency campaign engagements.
In a video that has since gained attention, Phillis Naa Koryoo can be seen actively washing cars, interacting with workers, and engaging with the local community.
NDC Parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, during her constituency campaign engagement, took over at a washing bay and washed some cars. pic.twitter.com/k6LCWsmB87
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) September 4, 2024
As voters head to the polls, they’ll have to decide whether these activities are genuine attempts to deliver on promises or mere theatrics.
Amidst the fanfare, some questioned the sincerity of these election-season antics.
And so, the pattern which repeats itself only during election seasons, looks like a well-choreographed dance.
Have Ghanaian politicians perfected the art of winning back trust only for a season?