The dominance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghanaian politics is under existential threat, according to Yaw Buaben Asamoa, General Secretary of the burgeoning United Party (UP).
Buaben Asamoa asserted that massive voter apathy and dissatisfaction have created an undeniable opening for a “third force” to challenge the entrenched two-party system.
The former legislator’s commentary provides the strongest indication yet of the UP’s strategy to position itself as the sole, viable alternative capable of capitalising on the growing discontent among the Ghanaian electorate ahead of the crucial 2028 general elections.
The Data of Dissatisfaction: Two Million Voters Erode Duopoly’s Safety
Buaben Asamoa pointed to hard electoral figures from the 2024 General Election to substantiate his claim that the duopoly’s safety margin has collapsed.
He highlighted the significant drop in voter turnout as the clearest sign of public frustration.
“It is obvious that there is a space for a third force. The duopoly is not safe anymore. It is a fact. Two million people refused to step out and vote in the last election,” he said on Channel One on Saturday, October 18.
This figure refers to the estimated 2 million registered voters who abstained from casting a ballot in the last presidential election.
The official voter turnout for the 2024 election stood around 70%, a notable decline from the 79% recorded in the previous election cycle.
Buaben Asamoa interpreted this gap not as mere laziness, but as a deliberate political signal.
“These were people who risked going into opposition because they were unhappy with either the leadership of their party or the goings on for that election.”
He framed the abstainers as politically conscious citizens, disillusioned by internal party issues, leadership choices, or the overall policy directions of the two dominant parties, whose cumulative vote share has historically topped 95% since the start of the Fourth Republic in 1992.
The Search for Credibility: UP Aims to Fill the Breach
Buaben Asamoa argued that while the appetite for an alternative is high—a “fact,” as he put it—the success of a third force hinges entirely on its credibility.
“It is a fact that there is appetite for a third force. The real question is whether or not there is a credible alternative which can step into either the breach for one of the duopoly or for both.”
The United Party, which comprises a coalition of former high-ranking members from both the NDC and NPP, aims to be that credible alternative. By uniting experienced political figures with a clear focus on good governance and economic stability, the UP seeks to prove that it can offer a superior administrative capacity compared to the established parties.
He concluded his remarks by clearly articulating the United Party’s ambitious objective:
“That is what we aim to be — a credible alternative.”
The UP is betting that if they can capture even a fraction of the 2 million disillusioned voters, along with voters seeking a change in policy direction, they could fundamentally alter Ghana’s political landscape, forcing a presidential run-off for the first time in over two decades, or even achieving an outright victory.
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