Political wishes cannot override the electoral data – Elvis Darko

By Hubeyidatu Mumuni

Political commentator Elvis Darko has urged Ghanaian political parties to base their electoral strategies on data and empirical evidence rather than partisan rhetoric and political assumptions.

Speaking on current political developments on CitiFM, Mr. Darko said that relying on political sentiment rather than verifiable electoral figures could lead parties to make costly strategic mistakes.

He cited the Ashanti Region as an example, dismissing claims that New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had lost significant support there.

According to him, the results of the NPP presidential primaries provided clear evidence that Dr. Bawumia retained strong support among delegates in the region, winning in 45 of the 47 constituencies.

Mr. Darko therefore called on political actors to examine electoral statistics objectively when assessing their strengths and weaknesses.

“Look at the facts, be guided by the data, and be guided by the science. It helps you make better decisions,” he said.

He further explained that electoral defeats should not automatically be blamed on individual party executives, noting that broader systemic and governance-related issues could significantly influence voting patterns.

Mr. Darko said grassroots supporters may become politically disengaged when their expectations regarding government appointments, contracts and other opportunities are not met, potentially affecting a party’s electoral performance.

He consequently argued that the retention of regional and constituency executives after an electoral defeat should not necessarily be interpreted as a failure by party delegates to identify the causes of the loss.

“You don’t lose elections because of individuals; you lose elections because of systemic issues you fail to address,” he stressed.

On concerns about media bias, Mr. Darko also clarified that ideological leanings within media organisations should not automatically be interpreted as formal political affiliation.

He acknowledged that some Ghanaian media houses may have identifiable ideological orientations but maintained that this does not make them official mouthpieces for particular political parties or candidates.

He cautioned political actors and the public against attributing affiliations or positions to media organisations without factual evidence.