Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere, has weighed in on the recent Ejisu by-election, suggesting that the low voter turnout indicates dissatisfaction among the electorate towards the governing party.
In the by-election held on Tuesday, April 30, the candidate from the New Patriotic Party secured a 55.79% lead against the Independent Candidate’s 43.24%.
However, the voter turnout was only 49.1%, falling below the Electoral Commission’s projection of more than 50%.
Dr. Asante Otchere expressed concern about this outcome, particularly for the NPP, stating, “If there is a by-election, and it happens in your stronghold and the voter turnout is low, it means that your people are very apathetic against you. They are apathetic against you, the very party that they gave birth to you in government.
“That is how I see it because what happened on Tuesday in terms of the turnout is by far lower than what the NPP under John Kumah won during the election. That is quite strange and significant if you are doing an analysis.
“Your people are very apathetic against you; your policies have not gone down well with the people. And if you are to be a bit partisan, don’t forget the Ashanti support base of the NPP, you know they have altered certain pronouncements to the effect that the NPP has been a disappointment to them. So, they will not waste their time to come and vote.”
Regarding bribery allegations during voting, Dr Asante Otchere commended the decision to include the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, in investigations.
“It’s a good step because we are talking about the EC that has had its credibility daunted over the period. For me, it’s a positive decision on their part. It should not end there. They should prosecute them so that the one who gave that particular envelope should come and explain. That is Kingsley Nyarko. He should come and explain. Because if this had not come out, glaringly, he would have denied it. He is referring to it as a document.
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