Our elections, youth, economy & democracy

Ghana’s 2024 election is unlike any, it is a defining moment that will represent an epochal shift in the structure of our economy, our culture, politics, and importantly our aspirations. And that must be the consideration for this election!

“Who we, “Ghanaian Youth” elect as President will be the most important exercise we undertake at this defining moment and in this decade. It is not a question of whether it matters, or whether it will make a difference. Nothing can be left to chance in this election. It must be decisive and every single youth of “voting age” must step up to be counted. To each and all, we must be campaigners.  And can no longer afford to sit on the fence.”

A decision must be made and a conscious effort to campaign, and to convert a friend, family member to a Party or Candidate. Ghana deserves better. Our future cannot be cheapened by politics of convenience. It is okay to be aligned to a Party and Candidate by party philosophy, affinity, or by family history, but the Presidential Candidate’s message and manifesto must be defined by the people, our country’s ideals and aspirations- What our people want, What we want as “Youth”.

So our choice of conversion for Candidate or Party matters; and must in my opinion, be determined by a number of factors, but first for context:

Context:

Ghana’s voting patterns and choice are usually defined by a Candidate’s Name recognition, personality, likeability, competence, & warmth. Other factors such as credibility, people skills, religion, family origins, ethnicity play a role in voting patterns. These also come into play in how a candidate/flagbearer is packaged and presented to the party to secure the candidature and then to the nation for the general elections.

A “Party’s manifesto” often defines the economic path and intention for State and Governance, except it is often unrealistic, underachieved and saddled with implementation challenges. When a Government is constituted, its Medium Term Development plan drawn from the National Development Planning Commission’s strategic plan provides basis for an economic blueprint, again saddled with implementation challenges. Every District in Ghana has a District Development Plan but the extent of performance, accountability are often not measured or its impact less visible.

Key Question: Have Party Manifesto, Medium Term Plans significantly addressed our developmental challenges or other indicators determine development when a party is in power?

Religion as a factor of this election:

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, about 17.6% of Ghana’s population is Muslim with a vast majority based in the three Northern Regions whose population has over 60% Muslims. According to the last Population census, the three regions of the North, excluding those who identify as Northerners (yet live in other parts of the country) represent 16% of the total Ghanaian Population.

Region of Birth as a Swing Factor in Voter Pattern:

The three Northern regions in Ghana (now 5 regions) have since 1992 voted predominantly for the NDC, except this trend has changed given voter dynamics – total seats, total vote count and outputs.

In 1979 and 2012, Ghana was privileged to have a President who hailed from the Northern part of the country.

The dynamics for representation and votes matter, both religion and region will play a critical role in election outcomes. But a country first strategy is needed. The President and type of leadership we need at this time is crucial. We are at a crossroad.

So will religion & region matter? It shouldn’t; Any idea that these factors significantly shift the ethos of Ghana politics must not be entertained! Ghana has never been a country that puts religion or region before our peace, economic prosperity and dignity. It is a debate we must not allow in private or public. The debate must be better. #Issues

Ghana has a youthful population and an increasing opportunity for real growth. Ghana Statistical Services 2022 Annual Household Income & Expenditure Survey report on Labor Force indicated the following:

Ghana recorded an average 13.4% to 13.9% unemployment rate across all quarters of 2022, and an estimate of 1.74 million (13.4%) of the total working population of 13 million was unemployed within the first quarter of the same year, with females twice as high as that of Males.

About a quarter of the population 15 to 35 years was not in employment, education or training (NEET) across the three quarters. This represents about 2.5 million persons. Among the top five regions with the highest NEET rates in Q3 were Savannah (27.8%), North East (24.3%) and Upper East (24.2%). Persons not in employment, education or training (NEET) reduces with age. This was in 2022. 2023 figures show a certain contrast.

The Global economic environment has experienced true shocks, and Ghana isn’t the only victim. So this election cannot be blame game as usual. We need True Leadership, Policies to transform our Economy. The economic & political dynamics, nuances and needs of Gen Z, Millennials and soon Gen Alpha, have still not been fully explored by any political party or economic policy.

This is a rallying call for us, as Youth to step up and be counted. We must interrogate the Strategic Plans called “Party Manifesto”.

What are the factors that must define the assessment of the Manifesto and the choice we make in deciding which political party, candidate we support. I can only offer guidance:

1. Candidate –  What is the track record of Candidate and Party, Campaign strategy and communication, the campaign literature, looking beyond the ads & photos? Have you noticed distortion and diversion tactics without explaining concrete policy action?  Who funds the candidate? To arrive at a concrete decision on who to vote for, we must interrogate their Person, Ideology, History, Network, Values, Principles.
2. His Team – Who is on his team? What’s their track record, what are the policies championed by these persons, past and present? Their communication style,  what kind of network do they have? What are their principles and key achievements? Demand and search for proof.
3. Potential & Current Appointees – An account of stewardship, their network and track record, collaborations with institutions, persons beyond Government. Do they have persons who can influence development, sufficiently networked, and with the right connections to bring investments to Ghana and to the grassroots?
4. Party ideology: Is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the Political Party, its make, character has evolved with contemporary politics? Does the new leadership represent an effective blueprint for inclusive political representation and development? – Change begins from here. Compare Current leadership and the Old Leadership, form and structure.
5. Funding & Resource Mobilisation –  Which party has presented a clear unambiguous resource mobilisation plan, costed manifesto or provided estimates, and who has the right network, policies to help bridge the deficits in our country’s domestic revenue for economic growth?
6. Representation & our Future – Social Protection, Policies for Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training, at risk, marginalised, Persons with Disabilities. This must be a critical policy assessment area.

Key Documents & Actions to request for and to look out for:

1. Policy Document and Action Plan for Youth Development –  Assess areas on Entrepreneurship, Health, Education & Employment, Technology, Finance, Trade, Energy, Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Financing – Key Strategic Actions for Competitiveness.
2. Performance analysis and past performance on these issues. – We must demand that the leading party’s publish their track record on these areas in a single document for comparison.
3. Funding and Resource Mobilisation Strategy to fund the Youth Development Strategy. – Beyond their broad macroeconomic policies, what specific actions will mobilise funding for youth development activities in Ghana.
4. Policy on Inclusion, Equity, addressing inequality for at risk, marginalised, minority classes often unrepresented.
5. Baseline Data on Justification/Pre-Feasibility Studies on Proposed Policy Actions – Are there any? Or the policies mentioned are “mere intentions”
6. Effective representation of Youth in MMDA’s, Boards, and consultative processes on Budget, Policy development across board. – Seen any proposal?
7. Processes and Systems of Accountability to the Youth. – Have these measures been outlined?
8. Representation of qualified youth on all national programs for inputs. – Its time for the media, Civil Society Groups, Development Partners to empower Ghanaian Youth to speak up in this election.

For this election, we must step up and speak up! We can no longer sit on the fence, we must engage and demand accountability from our MP’s, Candidates, Political Parties. This election will forever shape the future of our country and those after us.

We must participate fully in the political process- campaigning, demanding accountability, and making sure we vote! I hope this helps Ghanaian Youth make a good choice. Feel free to share with your networks and let’s engage on this. #GhanaRising #YouthGetInvolved #YouthVote #WeMustVote