Veteran journalist and political commentator Paul Adom-Otchere has shed light on the recurring pattern of political breakaways in Ghana, emphasizing that their true influence lies not in votes but in their ripple effect on ruling parties during election years.
Adom-Otchere noted that while splinter parties such as the National Reform Party, the Democratic Freedom Party, and the recent Movement for Change by Alan Kyerematen often fail to amass significant votes, their impact on public perception can be decisive.
“It’s not about the votes they get,” he said Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
“It’s really about the impact they make, which then throws a huge advantage to the opposition party for that election.”
He referenced how Augustus ‘Goosie’ Tanoh’s breakaway from the NDC in 1999 weakened the ruling government ahead of the 2000 polls — a dynamic he believes mirrored Alan Kyerematen’s exit from the NPP in 2023.
According to Adom-Otchere, the pattern is clear: breakaways that occur while the mother party is in government tend to hurt it electorally, while those that emerge in opposition have minimal or even reverse effects, sometimes consolidating the parent party’s strength.
“As soon as the election is over, their relevance evaporates,” he added. “They are unable to sustain momentum because their appeal hinges 80 percent on breaking away before an election.”
