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As Ghana prepares for the December 7, 2024, elections, it is projected that voters will collectively spend about one billion Ghana cedis throughout the election cycle. This estimation comes from a poll conducted by Data Insight Group of JOB Group Limited and Chartered Media Consult.
The poll highlights that the travel costs, which affect about 17% of the 2.9 million voters journeying across the country to vote, significantly contribute to this expenditure. High unemployment rates, which hover around 24% among voters, are also a factor contributing to political dissatisfaction. Over 10% of the voters, with half of them being female, are expected to either abstain from voting or not participate in the election.
Further, about 15% of the voter population consists of students, whose participation is likely to be impeded by economic hardships. Mr. Osei Boakye, Managing Partner of Chartered Media Consult, expressed concern over the potential decline in turnout among younger voters who face financial constraints.
“This is indeed a major concern since the turnout rate will potentially result in significant decline among younger voters who are financially the weakest link,” Boakye stated. He noted that over one in ten voters would probably abstain from voting.
Boakye also suggested the need for voting reforms to counter increasing electoral apathy, advocating for the simplification of political processes and making them more inclusive, especially for vulnerable populations.
The poll reveals that only 34% of voters understand voting as a civic responsibility, with around 5% likely to abstain and another 4% remaining undecided. This period until December is seen as crucial for strategic planning by stakeholders, campaign managers, and party officials to engage these voters.
Approximately 19% of voters view participation as an opportunity to express important issues or beliefs. However, skepticism remains, with only 4.4% trusting the electoral system and 6.5% of eligible voters, or over 1.11 million individuals, currently disenfranchised.
The cost of elections is substantial, but the disenfranchisement of voters can profoundly impact voter turnout. Boakye emphasized the government’s role in providing public goods and how voters assess government performance based on these provisions.
