Election 2024: Don't be misled into believing a win in Greater Accra guarantees victory — Prof. Smart Sarpong

Prof. Smart Sarpong, a Senior Researcher at Kumasi Technical University, has challenged the common notion that winning the Greater Accra Region in Ghana’s general elections guarantees overall victory.

His remarks come as political parties round up the final lap of their campaigns in the region on the same date and in close proximity ahead of the crucial 2024 elections.

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo morning show, Prof. Sarpong emphasized that while Greater Accra is a key swing region with the highest voter population, its significance cannot overshadow the contributions of the other 15 regions in determining the election outcome.

“Greater Accra is not Ghana, and no one should be misled into believing that winning Greater Accra guarantees winning Ghana.

“That’s simply not true. We must respect the votes from the other regions; there are 16 regions, for Christ's sake,” he asserted.

Greater Accra has often been viewed as a bellwether in Ghanaian politics, given its diverse electorate and history of voting for the two major parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Some analysts argue that a party's ability to secure victory in Greater Accra significantly boosts its chances of winning nationally.

However, Prof. Sarpong cautioned against over-relying on this notion, emphasising that regions like Ashanti, Eastern, and the Northern Region have historically been critical to deciding election outcomes.

He also highlighted the need for political parties to address the concerns of voters across all regions rather than focusing solely on Greater Accra.