The 2024 general election is going to be decided on based on how the economy has been managed by the government, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has said.
Also, corruption and infrastructure are going to dominate the political discussions in the election period, he added.
Dr Asah-Asante said it does not rest with any politician to decide whether or not to hand over power.
It is for the voters to decide, he added.
He was commenting on the statement by Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Bryan Acheampong had assured members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the economy will bounce back.
He said the government is working to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Hopefully, he said, by June this year the deal will be closed, a situation that will lead to the resurgence of the economy.
Speaking to members of the NPP in Kwahu after a health walk on Saturday, April 8, the Abetifi Lawmaker said “NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.
“It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost”.
The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security added “Now with the way things are changing the economy will bounce back again, I am telling you that we are going to come around that curve and we are going to win the 2024 elections hands down.”
Commenting on this, Dr Asah-Asante said “Yes, it is to be expected from a party that is desperately looking for its mandate to be renewed. But his statement doesn’t mean anything because it doesn’t lie in his mouth to determine who will vote for them.
“It is their records that will show, yes he will say they will not hand over power, but when the people go to the poll and decide who should inherit the reins of government, then you will see the reality. For now, I take it as an ordinary statement from a party person who is desperately looking for power.
“All political parties, first, their aim so to win power and form the next government so definitely they are in power and they will not want to give power to the next government, so they will make sure they win the election, that is how I understand it. For me, it doesn’t lie in his mouth to make that statement because there are factors that influence voter choices and it is not what he is saying.
“It is by dint of hard work, first and foremost it is the economy, have they improved the economy that they want the mandate to be renewed? Have they built infrastructure that also determines voter choices? Have they also worked against corruption? These are some of the issues that will come up.”