Election 2028: Ghanaians Want Vision, Not Political Metaphors and Deception — Anne Bogobiri
Legal practitioner and political activist Ms Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri Esq. has urged political actors to prioritise credible policies and evidence-based campaigning ahead of the 2028 general elections, warning against the use of political metaphors, innuendo and fear to influence voters.
She said Ghana’s electoral history showed how political narratives and public perceptions could shape voting behaviour, sometimes overshadowing substantive policy debates and national development priorities.
In a political commentary on the country’s Fourth Republic, Ms Bogobiri argued that metaphors had become powerful campaign tools, allowing political parties to simplify complex national challenges into emotionally charged messages that resonate with voters.
“Instead of debating policy, a party sells an image,” she observed, cautioning that such strategies could shift public attention away from the practical solutions Ghanaians expect from their political leaders.
Reflecting on previous elections, Ms Bogobiri identified insecurity as a defining perception in the 2000 general elections, while corruption and incompetence became dominant political narratives ahead of the 2016 polls.
She noted that these narratives influenced how voters assessed the performance of incumbent governments, demonstrating the power of perception in determining electoral outcomes.
However, she expressed concern that allegations surrounding drugs could emerge as a dominant political narrative ahead of the 2028 elections.
According to her, recent public comments by some political figures about the alleged existence of drug laboratories and an expanding drug trade in Ghana risk creating fear and shaping public opinion if the claims are not supported by credible evidence.
“Now, as we approach the 2028 elections, a new metaphor appears to be emerging: drugs,” she said, warning that the narrative could become a political tool for portraying the country as unsafe and influencing voters through fear.
Ms Bogobiri stressed that allegations involving drug manufacturing and trafficking were serious national security matters that required thorough investigation rather than political exchanges in the media.
“In a democracy governed by the rule of law, serious allegations demand serious proof,” she stated.
She argued that claims about the existence of drug manufacturing laboratories should be subjected to formal security investigations to establish the facts and determine whether any criminal activity was taking place.
She called on individuals who had publicly alleged knowledge of such facilities to provide actionable information to the relevant security agencies, including the Narcotics Control Commission, the Ghana Police Service and National Security.
She also urged the security agencies to invite individuals who had made specific allegations publicly to assist investigations by providing credible information about the alleged operations and their locations.
“This process protects both the integrity of our security services and the intelligence of the Ghanaian voter. It separates a verifiable security issue from a campaign talking point,” she said.
The legal practitioner maintained that the proposed approach would help establish the truth, protect the credibility of state security institutions and prevent unsubstantiated claims from becoming instruments of political manipulation.
She further argued that Ghanaian voters had become more discerning, with increased access to information and faster fact-checking making it more difficult for political actors to rely solely on emotionally charged narratives.
“The Ghanaian voter in 2028 is not the voter of 2000 or 2016,” she said, adding that the electorate increasingly expected political parties to engage in meaningful discussions about policies and practical solutions.
According to her, voters could feel insulted when political campaigns relied on innuendo and allegations instead of presenting clear ideas for addressing the country’s challenges.
Ms Bogobiri acknowledged that the opposition had a constitutional and democratic responsibility to hold the government accountable but insisted that effective opposition politics must go beyond criticism and offer a credible alternative vision for national development.
She challenged political parties to explain their proposals for creating jobs, stabilising the cedi, improving health financing, strengthening education and expanding road infrastructure.
“These are the issues that should define the campaign message of a serious opposition party,” she suggested.
She urged all political actors to abandon the use of metaphors as substitutes for policy proposals, insisting that electoral success should be built on credible ideas, verifiable facts and realistic development plans.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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