Professor Kofi Abotsi, Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, has criticized identity-based voting as a significant factor contributing to political non-performance in Ghana.
In a statement on his X platform, Abotsi argued that political parties that rely heavily on ethnic or regional support and loyal voter bases have little incentive to deliver effective governance.
“Voters cannot support poor performance while complaining about it,” Abotsi wrote, emphasizing that the entrenched loyalty based on identity undermines accountability and encourages mediocrity among elected officials.
Abotsi also addressed the “winner-takes-all” electoral system prevalent in Ghana, calling for reevaluating this practice.
He contended that this system exacerbates the costs of electoral defeat, creating a high-stakes environment that threatens national stability.
The winner-takes-all system, in which only the winning candidate and their supporters gain official roles, leaving the losing candidates and their supporters without representation, has been criticized for marginalizing significant segments of the electorate.
“The cycle and psyche of ‘winner-takes-all’ increase the cost of electoral loss,” Abotsi stated.
“It is why elections present dire choices for candidates and their followers, threatening us all and necessitating a serious reconsideration of governance, nation-building, and electoral practices.”
He further reflected on the concentration of power in the presidency, suggesting that the 1992 constitution’s design was based on the idea of a knowledgeable, generous leader.
“For the fractious, acrimonious, and self-seeking nature of our political environment, this has proven to be a tragic miscalculation,” Abotsi added, urging a rethinking of the political and governance structures better to reflect the realities of Ghana’s political landscape.
