Accra: Electorates in the Ayawaso East Constituency of the Greater Region have identified a number of key policy issues that would determine their voting choices in the 2024 elections.
In a survey done by the Ghana News Agency, the electorate’s primary concerns were Ghana’s economy, specifically employment prospects and the cost of living.
According to the electorate, people would look for political parties and candidates whose promises address those policy challenges.
Ayawaso East Constituency is host to several vital state facilities as well as places of residence.
These include Jubilee House, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghana Central Mosque, and Kanda Estate.
Since the constituency’s inception in 2012, the National Democratic Congress has won most of the votes, with an average of 60 per cent, while the New Patriotic Party has received 30 per cent.
Mr. Haruna Issah, a trader, disclosed that one significant policy decision that may impact his vote preference was the cost of living in the country.
He said the country’s cost of living has been on the rise and that the government had failed to alleviate the people’s suffering.
‘Currently we are really suffering because the cost of living is affecting everyone in the country. We cannot see any progress in sight in terms of what the government is doing to minimise the impact of suffering on Ghanaians.
‘I am expecting the aspirants of the two major political parties to tell us what they can do to reduce the suffering, especially the cost of living in the country,’ he said.
Umar Ahmed, an unemployed junior high school graduate, expects political parties to propose policy recommendations to help reduce joblessness in the constituency.
He said that the lack of employment opportunities had driven the constituency’s youth to engage in illegal activities, including drug addiction and peddling.
‘I am unemployed, and I don’t see how these political parties can provide job prospects for some of us. There are many talented people in this community, especially N
ima, but where are the opportunities to develop them?’ Ahmed remarked.
He urged political parties to initiate more vocational and sports-focused projects to help reduce unemployment in the constituency.
Miss Saidatu Azziz, a shopkeeper, said she expected political parties’ manifestos to include policy proposals that address the country’s present challenges.
She said the high cost of living in the country has had a significant impact on sales at the Nima Market, and that political parties need to educate citizens about how to address the issue.
Azziz indicated that she would vote for any political party whose policies addressed the country’s cost of living.
Source: Ghana News Agency