History is important in every election. Ghana’s election has gone in a particular direction since 1992. We cannot do politics without talking about history.
Two political parties have battled it for power since 1992. They are the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.
The NDC party has won four elections since 1992.
The NPP on the other hand has won three elections.
If NPP win 2020 election, both parties will have four wins each since 1992. But if they lose, the NDC party will extend their lead.
What does history say about the 2020 election?
Below are the four Historical Facts about elections in Ghana that can play a major role in 2020 election.
Since 1992, every political party that wins general elections wins with these three swing regions. They are the Greater Accra Region, Central Region and Western Region.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings in 1992 and 1996 won the election with these three regions.
Former President John Agyekum Kufour in 2000 and in 2004 won with these three regions.
We also have Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Former President John Dramani Mahama wining in these three regions in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
Last person is the current President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufu-Addo who also won 2016 election with these same regions.
The interesting part is since 1992, these three regions have gone to the side of the winning party.
In 2020 election, a political party that wins Greater Accra will definitely win Central and Western and will continue to win the general election. That is what history says
We now move our attention to the issue of incumbency.
Ghana’s political history has never witnessed the loss of an incumbent party who is seeking for re-election after their first four years.
The NDC Party led by JJ Rawlings won the 1996 election as an incumbent party seeking for re-election after four years in office.
Former President John Agyekum Kufour and the NPP Party won the 2004 election when seeking for re-election after four years.
Former President John Dramani Mahama led the NDC Party to win 2012 election. The NDC Party won when seeking for re-election after four years.
Note that in 2016, The NDC party lost the election as an incumbent party. This does not fall under four year incumbency rule. They lost after eight years.
Another fact about Ghana’s election from 1992 is every party that wins the election wins majority members in parliament.
From 1992 till now, party in power seeking for re-election after four years has always won majority members in parliament.
In the 1996 election, the NDC Party won majority members in parliament.
In 2004 election, we sas NPP wining majority members in parliament.
2012 was a closed contest between Former President John Dramani and Nana Addo Danquah Akufu-Addo. NDC party won the election with majority members in parliament.
The last aspect of Ghana’s electoral history is that, no political party has ever won the general election with a woman as a presidential candidate or a running mate.
Nana Agyemang Rawlings contested for the 2016 election but could not win.
Papa kwesi Nduom of the PPP selected Madam Eva Loko as his running mate in the 2012 election, but lost it.
The reason for Ghanaians not voting for women to attain the highest position is not yet known.
The fact still remains that, Ghana has not witnessed woman president of vice President.
Note also that NDC’s selection of professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang happens to be the first time a major political party in Ghana selected a woman as running mate.
History speaks well for the incumbent party in the 2020 election.
History cannot be changed but remember, records are there to be broken.
