The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has urged Ghanaians to treat political statements during elections with a pinch of salt.
His comment follows a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi who vowed to resign his seat if the party lost the by-election in Akwatia Constituency.
Speaking on thematter, Mr. Dankwah said political actors often project confidence to energise their base, even when the data does not support their claims.
“It was something to energise the base, but he was very confident. These politicians always appear confident even when they are losing,” he explained on TV3’s KeyPoints on September 6.
He contrasted Ghana’s political culture with that of the West, where candidates sometimes admit difficulties and work toward solutions.
“In this country, completely, they pull their best until the actual votes are counted, and then we see what happens. So sometimes we shouldn’t take them too seriously,” he added.
Mr. Dankwah emphasised that while politicians may make bold claims, they are not data experts.
“You can take me on if I, as a data analyst, get things wrong. But for him, he is a politician,” he stressed.
Before the by-election held in the Akwatia Constituency on September 2, Mr Baafi vowed that if the NPP loses the election, he would resign.
The MP’s remark sparked reactions among political observers, with some dismissing it as rhetoric meant to rally party supporters ahead of the polls while others believe he should resign as he stated.
Mr Baafi has since apologised.
Meanwhile the Deputy Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress, Rashid Tank Computer has said that they will not accept the apology.
“He said it himself, he must resign,” Tanko said.
