‘Need-addressing policies will determine Nov 7 polls’ - Lecturer

The electorate should vote for leaders with policies that address the current needs of the people of Ghana, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr John Gatsi, has stated.

The country will be heading for presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 November 2016. The economist believes policy interventions, which provide solutions to current challenges, will play a huge role in determining the winner of the polls.

The various presidential aspirants are yet to publish their manifestos, but several figures, who want to take over the reins of the country, have hit the grounds with vigorous campaign messages.

“To a large extent, what I think will drive this year’s election will be very clear policy alternatives and credibility of the policies. The reason is that when you talk about increase in fuel price, transportation and utilities for example, all these things have happened in the era of the two main political parties in this country and if you want to repeat that then you must come up with clear policy alternatives that voters can attach some credibility. For me, that is what will drive the elections,” Dr Gatsi noted in an interview with Prince Minkah on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday May 16.

Several critics including the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), have raised issues about the current conditions in the country, with the believe that the Mahama-led administration is mismanaging the economy through corruption, high taxes and skyrocketing cost of living.

However, a lecturer at the Finance Department of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Dr Lord Mensah holds the view that much of those affected by the rise in certain economic indicators are those in the cities.

To him, a large number of people will vote based on “what is delivered in their hands” and that is what will determine who wins the elections.

Dr Mensah told Prince Minkah on the same show that: “Those who are complaining of the economy now, how many are they? There are some people, who are completely not part of this economy. We are talking about those in Accra and the regional capitals complaining about the economy, but there are some people, who are out there in the hinterlands and they do not have anything to do with the economy. The only thing they purchase that can be used to measure the economy is salt and even that they can barter and they are the chunk of the people. The person is in his farm somewhere with all his crops surrounding him and all he cares about is the weather – for it to rain”.