The game is afoot for the final leg of Election 2020 campaign.
Yesterday, October 20, The Electoral Commission balloted for the positions of political parties on the ballot paper for the December polls. Now each political party knows which track they are in for the race to Jubilee House.
In the history of politics and elections in the country, the position of political parties on the ballot paper has been construed as a crucial determining factor in a party’s chance in the election.
The ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress come in 1st and 2nd on the ballot paper.
In Ghana’s multiparty democratic set-up, although only 2 major parties are factored in the decisions and choices of the people, the electoral system leaves room for other contenders.
While some consider it unnecessary, others applaud the inclusion of these smaller parties in the elections as it sometimes provides a healthy distraction during the intense moments of campaigns and especially, the counting of votes on Election Day.
This year’s election is no different.
Twelve political parties made it on the ballot paper after 5 others – 3 parties and 2 independent candidates – were disqualified by the EC from the election process on allegations of forgeries of signatures.
As is stands, the 2 main political parties took the top two positions.
Some may say that is indicative of their duopoly in Ghana’s multiparty democracy. But whichever way you choose to look at it, the political parties themselves have their own theories and conspiracies on their positions on the ballot paper.
After yesterday’s ballot the notable political parties put forward their thoughts and theories on their ballot paper positions.
The theories, conspiracies and prophecies
The New Patriotic Party
The governing party, NPP, secured the #1 spot on the ballot paper.
For party apparatchiks like John Boadu, who is the party’s General Secretary, “Nana Akufo-Addo is number one” and his position on the ballot paper is indicative of the fact that “the party is getting what it wants in terms of votes in the upcoming election”.
He also noted that during “the balloting exercise to determine the order of appearance of the political parties for the main balloting, the NPP picked number four (4)”.
Mr Boadu says that this “is consistent with the party’s 4More4Nana mantra”.
Social media was teeming with theories on the party’s chances in the December polls.
Source : https://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/election-2020-a-political-play-on-ballot-paper-positions/