The head of research for the National Democratic Congress has defended what has become the era of promises by politicians ahead of the 2016 elections in November.

Dr William Ahadzie said in the absence of a development plan, politicians have no choice but to make statements of intent to the electorates in order for them to know the plans they have for them when they win power.

The former head of the National Identification Authority said this on Joy FM's Ghana Connect program Friday.

With barely five months to go into the presidential elections in November, politicians have moved into the campaign mood with myriad of promises some of which have been described as unrealistic.

The latest is the promise by the NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo that his party will champion the building of factories in all the 216 districts in Ghana.

There had been similar promises in the past some of which were fulfilled, some of which were not.

A typical example is the one time premium promised by the NDC prior to the 2008 elections as well as the promise by the late president John Mills to reduce fuel drastically when he is voted into office.

On Ghana Connect, the panelist discussed how the electorates and the media will be vigilant enough to subject the promises of the politicians to critical scrutiny.

Dr Ahadzie said having been in power, the NDC has been doing quite a lot and have to trumpet their achievements and to promise the electorates about things the party will do when they are retained in office.

But a market woman, referred to only as Untie Julie, believes the electorates have been taken for granted for far too long.

She told Evans Mensah a good number of the promises by politicians do not get fulfilled.

Untie Julie does not understand why Masloc, for instance will discriminate in the loans it gives traders and enterpreneurs.

According to her, most of the loans are given to traders aligned to the governing NDC and that is not good enough.

"Masloc money is for all Ghanaians not for NDC. If there is opportunity shouldn't it be for all market women?  If u are leader at the market, all the market women are your children," she pointed out.

But William Ahadzie jumped to the defence of Masloc with the explanation that supporters of the NDC are also complaining that the money from Masloc is being distributed to other people other than the NDC.

"Masloc has delivered without being political," he insisted.