Report: Ghana’s Most Active Legislators on Social Media

Introduction
Elections are not won on social media. But gradually Ghana’s population is moving online (35% of the 29 million Ghanaians are on the internet as at January 2018) with 5.6million actively using social media, according to Hootsuite and WeAreSocial’s 2018 digital report . Though it does not look feasible anytime soon to have our ballot box online in our fledgling democracy, the citizens who elected the 275 legislators into the Seventh Parliament and the President seem to find the social media space attractive. This space holds enormous potential in stretching the canvas of participatory democracy through upfront advocacy and feedback to Legislators on public policy matters.

Last year (2017), the 535 members of the US Congress altogether, posted over 1million times on social media in a fierce competition for Americans attention and buy-in of party agenda and presidential candidates, according to Quorum , a public affairs software platform. In 2009, only a small number of Congress Members (Representatives and Senators) were on social media (Facebook and Twitter). By 2016, seven years later, “all 100 Senators and almost all Representatives have adopted Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools as a way to supplement their overall office communication strategies and disseminate information” ( Straus and Glassman, 2016 ).

Earlier social media reports in Ghana have focused on the social media presence of personalities in the Entertainment, Media, telecommunication and Church sectors, ignoring the country’s legislators. The dearth of literature on the impact of social media communications on MPs engagement with constituents and the general public on many issues has necessitated this research.

The aim of this research is to:

1. Inform Ghanaians about the social media presence of their MPs;

2. Examine the kind of content MPs share on their social media platforms;

3. Identify the most active MPs on social media

Methodology notes
Odekro constantly engages MPs of Parliament through its parliamentary monitoring and assessment project and other initiatives, thus it was able to fish out the social media accounts of some MPs easily without any major hurdle. For MPs we could not easily identify, most of whom were part of the 136 new MPs who entered the Seventh Parliament, we adopted the following steps in particular order:

1. Entered their names as captured in the Hansards and also in many other variations. If unsuccessful, we

2. Leveraged on the accessibility of their peers’ social media accounts to identify them. This of course depended on the privacy settings of the MP. If unsuccessful, we

3. Verified names on social media similar to the MP we seek to identify on the basis of content shared (legislative activities, constituency engagements, media engagements and other official assignments), relative regularity of online activity, tags by friends and stakeholders and general comments on posts.

4. We determined the ‘activeness’ of an MP by summing his or her Twitter and Facebook followers.

Among others, one potential limitation of our methodology could be failure to capture MPs using aliases or alternative names on social media. But if this limitation is allowed to hold, it will constitute a serious affront to the representative function of MPs. Odekro has constantly maintained the practical benefits of constituency relations in the sense that MPs who establish two-way communication with constituents are better positioned to explain or defend new policies, laws and challenges in prosecuting certain items on the government agenda. It is in an MP’s own political interest to maintain good constituency relations (both online and offline), as an MP who is considered inaccessible to his constituents risks losing his or her seat. (Pg. 34; Odekro report on the Sixth Parliament).

This research was compiled between January 19– February 16, 2018 and analysis was restricted to Facebook and Twitter accounts of MPs.

Findings

1. Of the 275 MPs in Ghana’s Parliament, 131 (47.6%) are on social media (Facebook and Twitter);

2. All 131 MPs are on Facebook with about 10% on Twitter.

3. Of the 131 MPs present on social media, 105 (80%) are men and 26 (20%) are women. In proportional terms, there are more women MPs (26/37; 70%) on social media against their men counterparts (105/238; 44%);

4. Of the 131 MPs present on social media, 29 (22%) are between 24-40 years, 92 (70%) are between 41-60 years, and 9 (7%) are between 61-65 years;

5. Of the 131 MPs present on social media, 76 (58%) are affiliated to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and 55 (42%) are affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC);

6. NPP MPs have more influence on Twitter than NDC MPs with an average following of 79,365 compared to the NDC’s average following of 35,522.

7. Generally, the tone of social media contents by both parties on average are largely partisan (35%) followed by information on constituency-related issues (31%), national issues (20%) and parliament related issues (14%). This observation is perfectly in tandem with strong historical evidence that “technologies have been shaped and used by those in power to maintain their positions of power.’ (Habermas, 1978; Unwin, 2009 quoted in Unwin 2012).

8. On average, the frequency of posts by MPs on social media is minimal. Also, contents shared is often informational and rarely interactive.

9. Moreover, MPs hardly engage their online constituents on legislative and public policy related matters. Neither do they seek the views of their online constituents on crucial bills before Parliament.

10. MPs’ contents on social media are more personal, than professional. Perhaps this is because majority of MPs manage their social media accounts directly. Only a few have outsourced this role to social media managers/Personal Assistants.

11. It is also instructive to note that online communications of MPs are not regulated and there are no plans yet to archive their official online communications including their social media posts.

List of MPs on Social Media
Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central)
Adongo Isaac (Bolgatanga Central)
Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Nadowli/Kaleo)
Albert Akuka Alalzuuga (Garu)
Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (Central Tongu)
Alfred Oko Vanderpuije (Ablekuma South)
Alhaji Inusah Abdulai B. Fuseini (Tamale Central)
Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (Asawase)
Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay (Afadzato South)
Augustine Tawia (Bia West)
Benjamin Komla Kpodo (Ho Central)
Cassiel Ato Baah Forson (Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam)
Charles Agbeve (Agotime-Ziope)
Clement A. Apaak (Builsa South)
Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah (Ada)
Della Sowah (Kpando)
Dr Dominic Akurintinga Ayine (Bolgatanga East)
Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo)
Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah (Ho West)
Emmanuel Nii-Okai Laryea (Amasaman)
Eric Afful (Amenfi West)
Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman)
Felicia Adjei (Kintampo South)
Fifi Fiavi Franklin Kwetey (Ketu South)
Geoffrey Kini (Nkwanta South)
George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan (Cape Coast South)
Helen Adjoa Ntoso Isaac Adjei Mensah (Wassa East)
James Agalga (Builsa North)
James Klutse Avedzi (Ketu North)
John Abdulai Jinapor (Yapei/Kusawgu)
John Majisi (Krachi Nchumuru)
Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo (Kpone-Katamanso)
Joycelyn Tetteh (North Dayi)
Kobena Mensah Woyome (South Tongu)
Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo (Shai-Osudoku)
Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central)
Mark Kurt Nawaane (Nabdam)
Mathias Kwame Ntow (Aowin)
Mohammed Abdul-Aziz (Mion)
Naser Toure Mahama (Ayawaso East)
Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (Akatsi North)
Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr (Agona East)
Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu)
Richard Acheampong (Bia East)
Richard Mawuli Quashigah (Keta)
Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem (Binduri)
Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite (Chereponi)
Samuel Nartey George (Ningo-Prampram)
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu)
Sebastian Sandaare (Daffiama/Bussie/Issa)
Sophia Karen Ackuaku (Domeabra/Obom)
Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu (Tamale North)
Yussif L. Jajah (Ayawaso North)
Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings (Klottey Korle)
Abass Ridwan Dauda (Sissala East)
Abena Durowaa Mensah (Assin North)
Abraham Dwuma Odoom (Twifo Atti Morkwa)
Abu-bakar Boniface Saddique (Madina)
Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin (Effutu)
Alhaji Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini (Tolon)
Ali Maiga Halidu (Dormaa West)
Anthony N-Yoh Puowele Karbo (Lawra)
Barbara Asher Ayisi (Cape Coast North)
Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South)
Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere (Tano South)
Bright Wireko-Brobby (Hemang Lower Denkyira)
Bryan Acheampong (Abetifi)
Catherine Abelema Afeku (Evalue Ajomura Gwira)
Collins Owusu Amankwah (Manhyia North)
Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover (Tema East)
Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul (Bimbila)
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei (Old Tafo)
Dr Kwabena Twum Nuamah (Berekum East)
Dr Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah (Kwadaso)
Ebenezer Kojo Kum (Ahanta West)
Ebenezer Nii Narh Nartey (Ablekuma Central)
Elizabeth Afoley Quaye (Krowor)
Elvis Morris Donkoh (Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese)
Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere (Atwima-Nwabiagya South)
Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko (Ayawaso West Wuogon)

Emmanuel Marfo (Oforikrom) Evans Opoku Bobie (Asunafo North)

Francis Manu-Adabor (Ahafo Ano South East)
Francisca Oteng Mensah
(Kwabre East) Freda Prempeh (Tano North)
Frederick Opare-Ansah (Suhum)
Fuseini Issah (Okaikwei North)
Gabriel Osei (Tain)
George Nenyi Kojo Andah (Awutu-Senya West)
Gifty Twum-Ampofo (Abuakwa North)
Hajia Alima Mahama (Nalerigu/Gambaga)
Ignatius Baffour Awuah (Sunyani West)
John Frimpong Osei (Abirem)
Joseph Albert Quarm (Manso-Nkwanta)
Joseph Benhazin Dahah (Asutifi North)
Joseph Dindiok Kpemka (Tempane)
Joseph Kofi Adda (Navrongo Central)
Joseph Tetteh (Upper Manya Krobo)
Kennedy Kwesi Kankam (Nhyiaeso)
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (Assin Central)
Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu (Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai)
Kofi Brako (Tema Central)
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (Ofoase/Ayirebi)
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (Takoradi)
Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi (Ejisu)
Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (Obuasi West)
Kwame Seth Acheampong (Mpraeso)
Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (Sunyani East)
Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia South)
Mavis Hawa Koomson (Awutu-Senya East)
Mavis Nkansah Boadu (Afigya-Sekyere East)
Mercy Adu Gyamfi (Akwatia)
Moses Anim (Trobu)
Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh (Ablekuma North)
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (Suame)
Patricia Appiagyei (Asokwa)
Patrick Boakye-Yiadom (Obuasi East)
Patrick Yaw Boamoah (Okaikwei Central)
Samuel Atta Akyea (Abuakwa South)
Samuel Ayeh-Paye (Ayensuano)
Sara Adwoa Safo (Dome/Kwabenya)
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (Anyaa/Sowutuom)
Stevens Siaka (Jaman North)
Suleman Adamu Sanid (Ahafo Ano North)
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (Ablekuma West)
Vincent Sowah Odotei (Dade Kotupon)
Yaw Buaben Asamoa (Adentan)
Yaw Osei Adutwum (Bosomtwe)
Ziblim Idd (Gushegu)
Salifu Adam Braimah (Salaga South)