Ghana: Citizens to vote on jobs, corruption and the economy

Ghana is headed to a tight general election on December 7, and some of the main issues are unemployment, corruption and a struggling economy.

President John Mahama is bidding for a second and final four-year term in office under a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket. He has made proposals to boost industry, energy, infrastructure, health and education.

An accessories designer and entrepreneur working in the capital Accra, Mabel Simpson said she started her business in 2010 with the equivalent of 50 US dollars in capital.

“I feel like Ghana needs a leader who is going to fight corruption, who is going to bring jobs especially for young people and who is also going to make sure that the manufacturing industry in Ghana is doing very well,” she added.

She reiterated that the country need to cut down on imports and rather concentrate more on exports so that we can grow the economy.

“The current government, the NDC wants to continue whatever they have started. I feel like its going to be keenly contested. And we have Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP who also wants to fight corruption and wants to come for change,” she said.

She said she wants Ghana to invest more in manufacturing and export of “Made in Ghana” products and to provide more support for entrepreneurs as a way of dealing with unemployment and boosting the economy.

“It is quite strange that I am still a bit indecisive about who I am going to vote for because I have seen the NPP in power, I have seen the NDC in power and every party, every government has its good side and bad sides,” she added.

This election is about change, not from one political party, it's about change for national unity. – Jacob Osei Yeboah #PresDebate16

— Ghana Decides (@GhanaDecides) November 30, 2016

Ghana has lost its reputation as one of Africa’s economic stars as it faced a slump in global prices for its exports of gold and oil.

The entrepreneur said corruption was one of the biggest issues holding Ghana back.