Journalist and host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, says growing dissatisfaction with what he describes as the “arrogance of power” under the current administration is pushing some voters in the Ashanti Region back towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking at the NPP Ashanti Regional Executive elections at Jubilee Park on Saturday, August 15, Mr Adom-Otchere said voters who were previously undecided between the NPP and governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) were becoming increasingly critical of the government.
“People have seen in the last one and a half years. I think that is really what is galvanising the NPP in Ashanti,” he said.
According to him, the NPP has historically faced difficulties winning over voters who do not strongly identify with either of the two major parties, but their experiences under the current administration could be changing that.
“These non-committed voters have seen the arrogance of power, particularly in the Ashanti Region of the NDC,” he stated.
Mr Adom-Otchere accused some government officials, including Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), of wielding excessive authority in the region.
“Regional Ministers behave like they are military commanders here in Ashanti Region. Never seen before, and it’s irking them, it’s annoying them, and they are wondering, ‘What is this?’” he said.
He also criticised the demolition of existing structures for projects linked to the government’s 24-hour economy programme, particularly the construction of markets.
He questioned the need for new markets when Ghana already has established trading centres such as Asafo, Adum, Kejetia and Makola.
“Ghana has had markets for 180 years. Asafo Market is older than Ghana’s independence. Adum Market, Kejetia Market and Makola Market, they are older than Ghana’s independence. We’ve already had markets,” he said.
Mr Adom-Otchere argued that the demolition of structures, including schools and banks, to make way for such projects was contributing to public frustration.
“People’s buildings have been broken down, and they break your building, whether it’s a bank, whether it’s a school, and they tell you, ‘We are building a 24-hour market,’” he added.
He believes the growing dissatisfaction could have political consequences for the NDC, particularly in the Ashanti Region, which has traditionally been a stronghold of the NPP.
“People are seeing these things, and they are desperate for the NPP to return to power,” Mr Adom-Otchere said.
