Reducing Election Expenses In Ghana

In few months’ time, Ghanaians will head to the polls to exercise their franchise in electing administrators of this nation for another four-year term. We give glory of God for seeing us through the election season as He always does.

After every election comes several notable concerns cutting across various sectors. The usual most common public outcry is the economic effect of elections. In this article, I wish to share with us a reasonable, yet simple way of reducing the expenses associated with elections.

Posters are relevant in publicizing political parties and candidates in an election. However, over the years, not only did political parties spend much on this medium of advertising, but overspent. How is that so? Consider the picture in below. Does it seem like what you often see in seasons we are about entering? Do we need between eight to fifty posters of the same candidate on one wall surface, vehicle, or even a tree?

Who says the number of posters on a single surface determines the familiarization of a candidate with the citizenry? Who for once in this civilized era will think that an election can be won by posting an unreasonably high quantity of posters on a single surface? This is sheer stupidity!

Not only many Ghanaians, but also the whole economy shed tears of hardships after elections. It costs averagely GH₵2.00 to print one A4-sized poster. Imagine how much is wasted nation-wide with fifty uncalled for posters on almost every public and sometimes private buildings, vehicles, and trees.

One could say without erring that such costs are born by the individuals and the political parties so why care? But how do we arrive at the macro-economic indicators if not by the aggregation of the micro’s. Is there a way they could raise funds, or spend in such unreasonable manner without an impact on the economy?

Until we come to the point where it may be possible to use an all-inclusive system to publicize all candidates like we have on the ballot sheets, the immediate solution for this absurdity as we go into the 2020 election era would be for the public, YOU and I, to demand accountable and responsible conduct from candidates in the manner they run their campaigns. Remember, if you vote for someone who recklessly spends his personal income, you don’t expect him to not mismanage the nation’s when he or she comes into office. And if such funds were borrowed before being wasted on one-point multiple posters publicity, then be assured such irresponsibility would recur to repay the debts when such candidates are voted into office.

I wish to conclude on this note, telling all Ghanaians that we owe no party our votes. Let us be reasonable in the exercise of our franchise to elect competent, trustworthy and serviceable people into office for the development of our motherland. Vote for development!

Written by: Rich Akpalu

(Author of GOD IN ME and MANY ANTICHRISTS available on Amazon and Smashwords.com)