Political Economy Analysis of Voter Participation and Choices in National Elections in Ghana’s Fourth Republican Era

Abstract

We analysed the determinants of voter participation (turnout), impairment of voter participation (spoiled or rejected ballots), and the outcomes (share of the total valid votes cast garnered by the victorious political party) in national presidential elections during the Fourth Republican era in Ghana. This analysis was undertaken based on meso-level statistical models, using district-level data of voters compiled from constituency-level data maintained by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and district-level socio-economic characteristics derived from the 2010 and 2000 National Population Censuses conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. In essence, we used data from two presidential elections in Ghana in 2000 and 2012 which could be directly aligned to data from the 2000 and 2010 national population censuses for district-level analysis using the concept of an average "district" voter. Our analysis indicated that the voter turnout was determined by a number of factors, the most important one being the population aged 15 over; the turnout decreases with increasing population. The impairment of voter participation, based on the proportion of the total votes cast attributed to spoiled ballots, was linked to the literacy rate with the spoiled ballots proportion declining with increasing literacy rate. The share of the total valid votes cast, obtained by the victorious party in a district, was influenced to a large degree by the proportion of the total number of citizens in a district belonging to the two biggest social/ethnic groups in Ghana, Asantes and Ewes, who predominantly voted in a countervailing manner for the parties that their political class elites dominate, the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress, respectively.

The Nexus between Citizen Participation and Engagement in Elections and Development in Ghana: Empirical Evidence from Voters in Four Electorally-Swing Constituencies in Ghana

“…Regardless of the perspective from which the debate is anchored, it is evident that neither argument can be convincingly maintained, as the predicament faced by developing nations such as Ghana does not allow for a singular choice to be made. The challenge of political and economic progression in a majority of these countries, including Ghana, demands concurrent consideration of political, sociocultural, and economic factors and issues (Bukari, 2017, Anaman & Bukari, 2019a, 2019b, 2022Anaman, 2016;Alidu & Bukari, 2020;Anaman & Bukari, 2021). This paper aligns with the view that political and economic liberation should be pursued concurrently and that prioritizing one over the other from the outset is inherently flawed.…”

“…The analysis draws on data from a random sample of 600 individual voters residing in Ghana's four most pivotal electorally swing constituencies. The study seeks to unpack an array of the political economy matters associated with election and perceived individual and communal socio-economic ramifications within the Agona East, Effutu, Sunyani, and Techiman North constituencies (Bukari, 2017;Anaman & Bukari, 2019a, 2019b, 2021Alidu & Bukari, 2020;Bukari, 2022).…”

“…Moreover, an intriguing aspect is the voting behaviour exhibited by Agona East and Effutu voters, which have accurately elected the victor of all national presidential elections and referenda since 1979. Besides, Agona East residents have consistently selected the winning candidate in all 17 national elections and referenda since the inaugural election in the Gold Coast on February 8 th , 1951 (Bukari, 2017;Anaman & Bukari, 2019a, 2019b. This paper's sampling design constituted a multifaceted combination of stratified/clustered, systematic, and simplistic random methods.…”

“…Undoubtedly, the establishment and perpetuation of a democratic atmosphere are crucial for cultivating and maintaining conditions conducive to robust and equitable progress, rendering it an indispensable accompaniment to wellfounded economic strategies (Bollen & Jackman, 1985;Anaman & Bukari, 2019a, 2019bAlidu & Bukari, 2020;Anaman & Bukari, 2021;Bukari, 2022). It is indisputable that within Africa, the capacity to tackle developmental impediments on the continent hinges upon the characteristics of democratic governance.…”

Penegakan Hak Asasi Manusia dalam Partisipasi Politik Warga Negara pada Pemilihan Umum di Indonesia

“…Dicey yang juga menulis buku Intruduction to the study of the law of the constitution ( 1885) mengenai tiga unsur yang harus dipenuhi sebagai negara hukum: a. Superemasi aturan hukum b. Kedudukan yang sama di mata hukum; dan c. Terjaminnya HAM dalam undang-undang atau undang-undang dasar. Dengan adanya hak asasi manusia dalam lingkup hak atas berkumpul dan berserikat serta hak untuk berpendapat maka hal ini menjadi landasan eratnya hubungan hak asasi manusia dengan segala bentuk partisipasi politik masyarakat yang efisien dalam suatu negara (Anaman, 2019;Zaccara, 2021). Dalam bahasa latin, "partisipasi" berasal dari kata pars yang nemiliki arti bagian dan capere yang memiliki arti mengambil peran dalam kegiatan atau aktivitas politik negara.…”