December 7 Elections: What is informing your choice?

The impending 2024 general election scheduled for December 7 presents another opportunity to decide who is entrusted with the destiny of the country for the next four years.

Can we pride ourselves in the choices we have made so far as voters?

As divergent as we are in our desires, perceptions and preferences, the answer to the above question could either be a yes or no.

However, since general elections give every registered voter the platform to contribute to the governance of the country once every four years, it is the responsibility of voters to critically assess the messages and programmes of the candidates and their political parties.

To enable us to get it well and right this time, with a minimal margin of error with respect to our choices, the development of the country should be considered by all.

Life’s basic principles of honesty, hard work, sacrifice, diligence and commitment are key.

In the same manner, our collective actions and inactions must reflect the same principles enumerated above.

Ghana does not need grandiose manifestos to develop. Irrespective of projects and programmes embarked upon by any government, not much would be achieved if we were not honest and patriotic.

No developed country in this world was able to reach the level they find themselves by downplaying the essence of the principles mentioned above, for both moral and ethical conduct in both public and private lives.  

Currently, all the political parties and their candidates are, once again, on a spinning venture, promising heaven on earth to Ghanaians.

Typical among these promises are provision of massive infrastructural development, such as roads, schools, bridges, markets, free education, the scrapping of first academic user fees in the universities, the removal of certain taxes and the provision of allowance for nurses and teachers, as well as creating employment, amongst others.

Certainly, these promises are meant to entice voters, impressing upon them the fact that there is an easy life ahead if they vote for party A or party B. However, we have to be smart.

Undoubtedly, our choices have not taken us to the realisation of our aspirations.

Thus, as we gear up to exercise our civic responsibility on December 7, let us be guided by a choice informed by a political party or candidate who is prepared to lead us to walk the difficult path with honesty, hard work, sacrifice, modesty and patriotism.

Kwame Amoah,
Election Consultant/President, Global Elections Gurus (GLG).
E-mail: [email protected]