The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged Ghanaians to critically scrutinise campaign promises and reject political propaganda when making electoral decisions.
He cautioned voters against allowing political slogans, emotional appeals and unrealistic promises to influence their choices without examining the policies and proposals presented by political parties and candidates.
“Do not surrender your judgement to political propaganda… examine the issues, compare the alternatives, ask questions and exercise your constitutional rights peacefully and responsibly,” he said.
Mr. Bagbin made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of Voices for the Ballot: Electoral Communication in Ghana, a book authored by Dr. Nana Sifa Twum, a strategic communication scholar and media development practitioner.
The publication examines the relationship between political communication, electoral campaigns and voter behaviour within Ghana’s democratic system, highlighting the roles played by political parties, candidates, the Electoral Commission, the media, civil society organisations and citizens.
In his address, the Speaker observed that political discourse in Ghana was increasingly dominated by campaign slogans, personality-driven messages and emotional appeals, often at the expense of meaningful discussions about policies and their implementation.
He stressed that voters must be able to distinguish between campaign promises and practical policies, as well as political allegations and established facts, to make informed decisions at the polls.
Mr. Bagbin said informed citizens, credible institutions and public accountability were essential to strengthening the country’s democratic governance and ensuring that elected leaders remained answerable to the electorate.
He also encouraged academics, authors and researchers to continue examining weaknesses in Ghana’s democratic practices and offering recommendations that could improve the electoral process.
“Our ambition must be to build a democracy in which political communication does not merely persuade people to vote but equips them to understand why they are voting, what they are voting for, and how they can hold those elected accountable,” he said.
The Speaker further highlighted the growing influence of social media on political communication, cautioning against the spread of misinformation and falsehoods, particularly during election periods.
He called on journalists and media practitioners to uphold professional standards and provide citizens with accurate information to support meaningful public debate.
“Our democracy needs a media that is independent enough to scrutinise power, professional enough to distinguish between facts and fiction, and responsible enough to recognise the consequences of its reporting,” he added.
Mr. Bagbin commended Dr. Twum for contributing to discussions on electoral communication and expressed hope that the book would promote responsible political campaigns, educate voters and strengthen democratic institutions.
For her part, Dr. Twum said electoral communication should go beyond helping politicians secure political power and instead contribute to deepening democracy by encouraging citizens to understand their responsibilities and role in national development.
She also disclosed that plans were underway to organise stakeholder dialogues across the country to discuss effective approaches to electoral communication.
The President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, Esther Cobbah, also underscored the importance of professional communication in politics and expressed confidence that the book would serve as a valuable resource for communication practitioners and scholars.
