Presidential Debates and Electoral Fortunes of Political Parties in Ghana's 2008 Elections

Abstract

This paper discusses the two presidential debates in Ghana, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) in Accra and Tamale before the 2008 general elections. The debates provided an opportunity for the presidential aspirants of the four main political parties with representation in parliament to engage in a contest of ideas. Using findings of a survey of 100 respondents, representing a cross-section of the Ghanaian population, the paper argues that presidential debates have a negligible role in positively affecting the electoral fortunes of political parties and contribute little to whipping up support for their presidential aspirants, especially among the undecided voters. Their role in consolidating Ghana's democracy, particularly in ensuring dialogue and participation of the people in decision-making, however, remains largely positive in spite of the several flaws and challenges that characterize their conduct in Ghana. The study therefore, recommends measures to ensure successful conduct of presidential debates in Ghana in a manner that fully contributes to democratic consolidation and encourages voters, especially the undecided ones, to objectively make a good decision as to which presidential aspirant or political party to vote for in future.

Notes

Commission on Presidential Debate Website, available at http://www.debates.org

I was a researcher at The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) and worked on the presidential debates organized by the Institute in 2004 and 2008.

As the researcher in charge of presidential debates, I wrote several letters on behalf of the IEA-Ghana to various civil society organizations in Ghana inviting questions from them and asking them to select people to represent them at the debates.

I am grateful to Kwamena Ahwoi, Leading Member of the NDC and a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for suggesting this point.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ransford Edward Van Gyampo

Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 64, Legon-Accra, Ghana-West Africa.