Former United States President Donald Trump has been re-elected, defeating current Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5.
This outcome has sparked discussions among many Ghanaians who will go to the polls on December 7 to elect either former President John Dramani Mahama, current Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, or one of thirteen other candidates.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Daybreak Upper East show, political analyst Professor Nsiah Gyabah suggested that the outcome of the U.S. election could signal similar changes in Ghana’s political landscape.
He stressed that if the ruling government in Ghana does not learn from the U.S. election, it could face significant challenges in December.
“When you look at the past, whenever there’s a change in America, it reflects in Ghana as well, and if this is anything to go by, then the ruling government should be concerned,” Professor Gyabah said. “The ruling party will have to take this seriously and work very hard.”
He emphasized that Trump’s successful campaign, centered on “making America work again,” resonated with many Americans frustrated by the state of the nation. According to Professor Gyabah, Trump’s perseverance through various personal and political challenges has demonstrated his commitment to the country, despite controversy surrounding his actions. He believes this personal narrative, combined with his economic focus, played a crucial role in Trump’s victory.
Professor Gyabah noted that key issues in Ghana mirror some of the concerns that influenced Trump’s success, particularly economic hardship. Unemployment, corruption, and rising concerns over LGBTQ+ issues are pressing challenges for Ghanaians, he said.
“Some issues in the country cannot simply be swept under the rug. The issue of unemployment is affecting everyone,” he noted.
He also highlighted that economic issues, such as the troubling dollar-to-cedi exchange rate, are top concerns for Ghanaian citizens. The analyst suggested that the previous government’s loss was largely due to its failure to address economic problems, and if the current situation continues to deteriorate, the ruling government could face a similar outcome.
While international policies, including Ghana’s stance on immigration, were mentioned, Professor Gyabah emphasized that domestic economic stability and the daily survival of ordinary citizens are the primary concerns for Ghanaians.
“The issue of international policy is not so important in our case. Our focus is on bread and butter—how we can survive in the system. Our main concern is the economy.”
As in the U.S., he warned that a failure to address these fundamental issues could have significant political consequences in Ghana.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
