A research conducted by Dr George K. Ofosu, an Associate of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has revealed that citizens prefer parliamentary candidates who provide infrastructural developments to candidates who promise to be of a financial support system to them.
The research, based on how voters select Member of Parliament (MP) noted that candidates who regularly organize town hall meetings to listen and share in their grief are likely to win the votes of constituents.
During a presentation on the research at the CDD office, Dr George Ofosu added that, MPs who attend social gatherings such as funerals, traditional festivals among other social events and equally support the occasion with cash gain the votes of the inhabitants.
“The findings seek to suggest that a lot of people, in general, seem to want their MPs to provide local public infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and so on other than providing personal financial assistance such as school fees, paying their medical bills”, he said.
The finding further noted that MPs who listen to the call of their constituents, represent their views in parliament will also retain their seats as this, is very critical to them.
Dr Ofosu said, “Representation is very important to people. Representing our views in parliament is important too and they that into account when they are electing Members of parliament”.
However, Dr Ofosu averred that parliamentary candidates’ profession, as well as the gender, has no effect on the people’s choice in selecting an MP for the area.
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