Political scientist at the Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has emphasized that the ongoing question exchange between presidential candidates John Dramani Mahama and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia a positive strategy to influence new and uncertain voters.
Speaking on ABC Midday News on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, he explained that this form of engagement plays a crucial role in swaying votes, enabling the candidates to communicate their policies more effectively as outlined in their manifestos.
“The questions stem from the manifestos they have given out to Ghanaians,” he stated, underlining the connection between the candidates’ inquiries and their policy promises.
The political discourse has become particularly heated as Vice President Dr. Bawumia responds to pointed critiques from Mr. Mahama regarding Ghana’s economic challenges.
The questions posed by Mahama highlight significant concerns about the country’s financial state, including the depreciation of the cedi and rising inflation.
As Dr. Afriyie noted, “All those questions are what his (Bawumia) government has achieved so far,” reflecting the scrutiny of Bawumia’s performance during his term in office. This dynamic forces both candidates to confront their opponents’ weaknesses while attempting to rally support from the electorate.
Dr. Afriyie further suggests that this strategy will resonate more with new and uncertain voters, as party loyalists are typically already well-informed about the political landscape.
“It will be much more prevalent on new voters and straint voters,” he remarked, indicating that the tactics employed in this debate could prove decisive in shaping voter perceptions as the December 7 presidential election approaches.
