Be careful; there is disappointment ahead – Prof. Bokpin advises Ghanaians over numerous political promises

A Finance Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Godfred Bokpin has advised citizens to be wary of the numerous promises being made by politicians ahead of the 2024 general election.

Describing the nation’s political climate as driven by "a politics of promises," Prof. Bokpin expressed concern that these commitments often lack the fiscal backing to be realised, ultimately leading to public disappointment.

“Our democracy is one of a politics of promises, it is politics of promises. And Ghanaians should be very careful because disappointment lies ahead,” Prof. Bokpin remarked during an interview with Starr FM.

He urged Ghanaians to lower their expectations, warning that not all pledges made during campaign season are feasible.

Highlighting the fiscal limitations the country faces, Prof. Bokpin explained, “We don’t have the fiscal space to implement a number of the proposals that the political parties have put out there. They cannot, and they know. The political parties, they know. They know the realities on the ground. We are unwilling to admit so because it’s politics of promises. It’s not the politics of fulfilling promises."

The finance expert also touched on a critical issue regarding accountability, noting that political parties are rarely held to account for the quantity and quality of their promises.

“It’s not like the Ghanaians can hold politicians accountable to their promises, both in terms of quantity and quality,” he added, underscoring a longstanding gap in the nation’s political structure.

As election season heats up, Prof. Bokpin’s cautionary words urge Ghanaians to approach campaign pledges with caution, recognising that financial constraints may prevent many of these promises from materialising.

His message calls for a more realistic evaluation of campaign promises, encouraging citizens to focus on sustainable, achievable goals that genuinely benefit the nation.