Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, a senior lecturer in political science at the University of Ghana, has declared that no party or individual, including the movement led by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, can win the elections scheduled for December 2024.
As has been the case in the majority of two-party systems worldwide, he claims that Ghana’s two-party system will take a very long time to give way to any third force.
When two powerful parties coexist in a two-party system in another jurisdiction, it becomes apparent that the other parties are marginalized. He contended, “It will take a very long time for you to get a third force.”
When asked if Ghana was at that point in time by December 2024, he said, “No, it is not.”
The function of proportional representation is actually a third force. Such outcomes are the consequence of having such a system, as demonstrated by Germany, Israel, Belgium, and other countries.
He did point out that the two major parties in Ghana will continue to rule supreme unless the electoral system is altered.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante stated that “a third force is a difficulty” in response to the firing of about four New Patriotic Party (NPP) members for endorsing Alan Kyerematen’s independent candidacy.
“Other parties will stay in the background and get smaller.Therefore, movements like Alan’s may only hope to force elections into a second round by garnering a sizable number of votes and joining forces with other established parties. That’s the best they can manage. We conducted research, and the data shows that, when combined, the average performance of all the other political parties from 1992 to 2020 was less than 4%, the speaker said.
Therefore, I’m worried that Mr. Alan Kyerematen is not working for someone who will come in and cross the 50% mark and beyond.
Alan Kyerematen knows that he can be a kingmaker by forcing the election into a second round, at which point everyone who is criticizing him will have to concede defeat and bow to him. That is the only thing he is fighting for. But he is aware that it won’t work for winning,” Dr. Asah-Asante emphasized.
However, the Political Science lecturer stated that it was too soon to tell if Mr. Kyerematen would be able to force a second round of voting.
