People knew Ayawaso East was a foregone conclusion for NDC — Kusitor on low turnout

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Wonder Victor Kusitor, has rejected claims that the low voter turnout in the Ayawaso East by-election reflects a decline in goodwill for the government.

The election, won by the NDC’s Baba Jamal, was expected to attract more than 49,000 voters.

However, only about 16,000 ballots were cast at the close of polls.

Some critics, including former Tema East MP Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, have argued that the low turnout signals public dissatisfaction with the NDC administration and growing economic hardship.

However, speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily show on Wednesday, March 4, Kusitor argued that the outcome was due to voter complacency and the Ramadan season.

He explained that many voters believed the NDC’s victory was certain and therefore did not see the need to turn up in large numbers.

“There’s some element of complacency, the general feeling that there was no way the NDC could lose that election,” he stated.

“It was like a foregone conclusion. Even the NPP stalwarts knew there was no way they were coming close to winning that seat,” he added.

Kusitor also dismissed suggestions that the government’s economic management had weakened its support base, citing social intervention spending as evidence of continued public investment.

He added that low turnout is not unusual in by-elections and should not be misinterpreted as a rejection of the government.