In a recent interview with BBC’s James Copnall, Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Lydia Forson shared her perspective on the shifting dynamics in Ghana’s political landscape, particularly in light of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) crushing defeat in the December 7, 2024 elections.

Forson attributed the NPP’s loss to the growing disillusionment among Ghanaians, especially the youth, who are demanding greater accountability from their leaders.

According to Forson, one of the primary reasons for the shift in voter sentiment is a pervasive frustration with the lack of accountability from the government.

“Accountability is one of the main things a lot of young people are angry about,” she said. “The reality is, is there a global crisis? Yes. But when you factor in a growing economy, we are going to be hit much harder. Now you have a people who are frustrated and they want to be heard.”

Forson went on to highlight the increasing restlessness among Ghanaians, particularly the youth, who feel that their voices are not being heard by their leaders. “They are protesting and don’t feel like they can protest, they are speaking up and they don’t think they are being heard,” she continued, emphasizing the disconnect between the people and their government.

She stressed that the situation is not just about the challenges faced globally, but about how the government has responded—or failed to respond—to those challenges.

She also pointed out the growing demand for a leadership that is willing to listen to the people. “One of the most important things is having a listening leadership,” Forson explained.

“Because if people are upset about something and they come to you and you tell them ‘don’t talk about it’, or you are not allowed to be angry about it, that is a big problem.” Forson believes that the 2024 election was ultimately a referendum on the leadership’s ability to listen and deliver on its promises.

Forson’s words reflect a broader shift in the electorate’s priorities. She noted that, increasingly, Ghanaians are not voting based on political loyalty or tribal lines, but rather on the performance and promises of the candidates.

“This election was really about the people, it was about any political party,” she stated. “The electorate is becoming more and more discerning. They are no longer voting necessarily based on tribal lines or loyalty to one fixed party.”

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