Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Godfred Bokpin, has appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to create reasonable predictability and certainty in managing elections in the country, particularly the upcoming election.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, August 6, he explained that this stability is vital for maintaining economic confidence and currency stability.
He believes that “Artificially, we create uncertainty which undermines the currency’s stability.”
“My appeal will go to the Electoral Commission. We have to create reasonable predictability and certainty with how we are managing our elections because it is not the first time Ghana is going into an election year. A couple of months ago, the UK had their general election and we didn’t hear of ballot boxes being snatched, or polling agents all over the place,” he said.
He added that, addressing these issues is crucial as this will not be the last election that will be held in the country.
Again, he called for some level of assurance and predictability of fair play, allowing businesses to operate smoothly even in election years.
This stability is essential for attracting foreign investors and ensuring consistent portfolio flows and foreign direct investment, he added.
“Foreign investors need to see stability to avoid the ‘wait and see’ attitude. They shouldn’t think, ‘Let’s wait and see if this country will have disruptions.’ We need to show that everything is okay, then they will move in,” the expert noted.
Prof Bokpin comment comes after the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) in its 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review reported that Cedi depreciation has significantly impacted the country’s economic landscape, leading to labour agitations, the collapse of some businesses, and the relocation of others to more business-friendly countries.
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