This last-minute commissioning does not sway any vote – Movement for Change

Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change, has dismissed the recent commissioning of government projects as a mere political tactic that will not influence voter decisions.

Speaking on ABC Midday on November 25, 2024, Solomon Owusu, a senior communicator for the group, stated that “the people of Ghana have already made up their minds, and these last-minute commissions are unlikely to change anything.”

Mr. Owusu described the trend of last-minute project inaugurations by incumbent governments as a familiar tactic that often fails to yield electoral success.

“Every incumbent government commissions projects, and at the end of the day, they usually lose elections. For me, this spree of commissioning does not sway any votes; it can even infuriate people,” he remarked.

He emphasized that addressing pressing issues like poor road networks and economic challenges should take precedence over ceremonial activities.

The comments come as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo embarks on a series of high-profile inaugurations, including affordable housing units in Tema, a bridge at Atoaso Owabi, and a new government hospital in Sabronum.

Critics, including opposition parties, have accused the government of using these events as an electoral strategy.

However, the government insists that the projects align with its commitment to improving infrastructure and enhancing citizens’ livelihoods.

Mr. Owusu further argued that Ghana’s infrastructure deficit cannot be bridged solely through public funds, given the country’s low tax revenue and high corruption levels.

He advocated for greater involvement of the private sector in national development, suggesting that private investment could generate much-needed revenue and improve efficiency in addressing infrastructure gaps.

“Inviting the private sector will bring in the much-needed revenue so they can operate,” he concluded.