As Ghana approaches its December 2024 general elections, voters are placing a premium on honesty, character, and campaign promises when choosing their leaders, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey.

The survey highlights that these factors are the most critical in shaping voter decisions, reflecting the growing importance of personal integrity and transparency in the country's political landscape.

The majority of Ghanaians prioritize a candidate’s honesty (90%) as the most important factor, followed closely by the candidate’s character (88%). Campaign promises, although still significant, rank third, with 59% of voters saying they will consider them when deciding who to vote for.

Party Loyalty and Voting Patterns
Most voters plan to cast their ballots for both presidential and parliamentary candidates from the same political party. The survey reveals that 58% of respondents intend to vote along party lines, choosing candidates from a single party for both positions. In contrast, only 15% of Ghanaians plan to split their votes between different parties, and a mere 6% are considering independent candidates.

Confidence in Election Security
Despite concerns about political violence, the majority of Ghanaians remain largely untroubled by the prospect of political intimidation during the campaign period. According to the survey, 85% of Ghanaians reported having little or no fear of experiencing violence or intimidation during the 2020 elections. Only 14% of respondents expressed concerns about such threats, suggesting a relatively high level of confidence in the safety of the electoral process.

Elections as the Preferred Method for Leadership Selection
The survey also confirms that Ghanaians overwhelmingly support elections as the best way to choose their leaders. A striking 81% of respondents said they believe in elections as the most effective mechanism for selecting political leaders, a sentiment that has consistently remained above 80% for the past two decades.

Conclusion
As Ghana heads into its December 2024 elections, the Afrobarometer survey underscores the importance of honesty and character in political candidates, reflecting a shift towards greater accountability in leadership. While voters largely remain loyal to their chosen political parties, the survey also highlights growing public confidence in the election process, with most Ghanaians viewing elections as the best and safest method to determine the country’s future leaders.

These findings provide valuable insights into the key factors that will drive voter behaviour in the upcoming elections, offering a glimpse into the evolving political landscape in Ghana.