The third force in Ghana’s political landscape typically refers to political parties or movements outside of the two major parties: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Historically, these two parties have dominated the political space since the country’s transition to multi-party democracy in the early 1990s.
However, there have been several attempts by smaller parties and independent candidates to challenge the dominance of the NDC and NPP. One such party is the Convention People’s Party (CPP), which was founded by Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The party was a split from the United Gold Coast Convention. While the CPP has struggled to regain its former prominence, it still maintains a presence in Ghanaian politics, particularly in certain regions.
Another party that emerged as a potential third force is the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), founded in 2012 by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, a Ghanaian entrepreneur and politician. The PPP advocates for progressive policies and has positioned itself as an alternative to the NDC and NPP.
Barely eight months ahead of Ghana’s presidential election, two new political movements have surfaced to challenge the long-standing two-party status quo.
Alan Kyerematen’s Movement for Change and New Force Movement led by Nana Kwame Bediako are in the race to challenge the entrenched NPP and NDC.
Nana Bediako launched his campaign with a good number of giant billboards featuring a man in a mask. The inscription read: “Leadership for the next generation #thenewforce”.
New Force movement emphasises a departure from the old political structure and promises innovative solutions to economic challenges, though he has yet to present detailed plans.
On other hand, Alan’s”Movement for Change” with a Monarch Butterfly as the symbol, has resorted to forming alliance with nine ‘smaller’ political groups under the umbrella name “Alliance for Revolutionary Change”.
The alliance is expected to aggressively mobilise Ghanaians from across the country, particularly the youth and women, irrespective of their religious, political, and ethnic affiliations, to elect a first independent candidate under the 4th Republic.
It includes the National Interest Movement led by Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Ghana First Coalition led by Dr Samuel Noi Mensah; Union Government, founded by Akwasi Addai Odike; Ghana National Party, founded by Mr Sam Ofori Ampofo.
The rest are the Ghana Green Party, founded by Rev. Stephen Ayensu; Third Force Movement, founded by Mrs Augustina Cudjoe; and Non- Aligned Voters Movement, founded by Mr Kwofie Beni Bengor and Mr Henry Asante, Crusaders Against Corruption Ghana, former National Second Vice Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Speaking to RGG News, the Spokesperson for the Movement for Change, Courage Nobi, said the alliance, when voted into government, would focus on addressing the increasing poverty rate and reset the country on a new path to prosperity.
He said for the alliance to realise this objective, they would advocate for fundamental constitutional reforms, including, but not limited to reforms in governance, public sector accountability, management of our natural resources, as well as mindset and attitudinal change in Ghana.
“The alliance was going to battle with these two political parties to rescue Ghanaians from the increasing hardship faced in the country due to the increasing inflation, unemployment, and among others”, he said.
In an interview with RGG News, a Pollster, Ben Ephson said an alliance of three or more independent candidates could force the upcoming elections to a run-off.
“I think that it is going to be kind of difficult. If my memory serves me right, apart from the NDC and NPP, only one other candidate (independent or from a smaller party) has gotten beyond 1% that was Goosie Tanoh of the National Reformed Party (NRP).”
“The nearest person to get to 1% was Paa Kwesi Nduom who got 0.99%. So it tells you that maybe someone will attend a small party rally but will spoil his vote by voting for NDC or NPP,” Ephson said.
“So it’s kind of going to be difficult for a third force [to win], maybe if we get two or three independent candidates who are strong, cumulatively they get 3% we could head to a run-off,” he said.
