Skirt and blouse voting is a term in the politics of Ghana where a voter chooses the presidential candidate of one party and a parliamentary candidate of another party on the same ballot. [1] [2] It is an alternative name for split-ticket voting.
Skirt and blouse voting can be seen as a form of protest against particular presidential or legislative candidates that are imposed upon voters by party elites or as a vote of no confidence in particular candidates. [1] Certain experts also attribute the phenomenon to the increasing political consciousness of the nation's electorate. [3]
The phenomenon of skirt and blouse voting has grown in recent years, with 11 constituencies voting skirt and blouse in 1996 compared to 26 constituencies voting skirt and blouse in 2012. [3] [4]
However, none of the 28 constituencies that voted skirt and blouse in 2016 were duplicates from 2012. [5]
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a centre-right and liberal-conservative political party in Ghana. Since the democratisation of Ghana in 1992, it has been one of the two dominant parties in Ghanaian politics, with its leading rival being the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC). John Kufuor of the NPP was President of Ghana from 2001 to 2009. At the elections held on 7 December 2004, the party won 129 out of 230 seats. The NPP candidate was Kufuor, who was re-elected as president with 52.75% of the vote. The New Patriotic Party symbol is the African elephant and the New Patriotic Party colours are red, white, and blue.
Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) is an inactive political party in terms of elections in Ghana. It has not contested any elections since the 2004 Ghanaian general election. According to Ghanaian law, political parties must have a presence in all districts in order to remain registered, but due to lax enforcement, EGLE remains registered as a party as of 2019.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a social democratic political party in Ghana, founded by Jerry Rawlings, who was Head of State of Ghana from 1981 to 1993 and the President of Ghana from 1993 to 2001. Following the formation of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which ruled Ghana following the military coup d'état on 31 December 1981, there was pressure from the international community to restore democracy. The NDC was formed as the ruling party ahead of elections in 1992, in which Rawlings was elected president, and in 1996 Rawlings was re-elected as the NDC candidate. Rawlings' second term ended in 2001.
John Dramani Mahama is a Ghanaian politician who served as President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017. He previously served as Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012, and took office as president on 24 July 2012 following the death of his predecessor, John Evans Fiifi Attah Mills.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 2017. He previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kufuor-led administration.
Mahamudu Bawumia is a Ghanaian economist and former central banker who serves as the 5th Vice President of Ghana in the 4th Ghanaian Republic. He assumed office on 7th January 2017 as Vice President of Ghana.
General elections were held in Ghana on Friday 7 December 2012 to elect a president and members of Parliament in 275 electoral constituencies. Owing to the breakdown of some biometric verification machines, some voters could not vote, and voting was extended to Saturday 8 December 2012. A run-off was scheduled for 28 December 2012 if no presidential candidate received an absolute majority of 50% plus one vote. Competing for presidency were incumbent president John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and six other candidates.
Mahama Ayariga is a lawyer and politician in Ghana. He belongs to the National Democratic Congress. He was the Minister of Information and Media Relations and the Minister of Youth and Sports under the John Dramani Mahama administration. He is currently the Member of Parliament representing Bawku Central constituency of the Upper East Region of Ghana in the 4th,6th and 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.
FiifiFiavi Kwetey is a Ghanaian politician and General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress. He is a former 2 term Member of Parliament for the Ketu South constituency in Ghana. He was Propaganda secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Alhassan Bashir Fuseini, popularly known as Alhaji A. B. A. Fuseini, is a Ghanaian journalist and politician, who is the former deputy Northern Regional Minister of Ghana. He is a member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Sagnarigu in the Northern Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.
Ivor Kobina Greenstreet (born 31 May 1966) is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He was the Presidential candidate for the Convention People's Party (CPP) in the 2020 Ghanaian general election.
Bernice Adiku Heloo is a Ghanaian politician and was the former Member of Parliament for Hohoe Constituency.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, is a Ghanaian lawyer and a politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and the Member of Parliament for the Damongo Constituency. In 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo appointed him as Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Office of the President, at the age of 33, the youngest in the history of Ghana to occupy such a position. He is currently the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and assumed position as caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry on 16 January 2023.
Eric Opoku is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament and 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Asunafo South Constituency in the Brong-Ahafo Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.
Kofi Amoakohene is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Atebubu-Amantin Constituency in the Bono East Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. He was the former Bono East Regional Minister.
General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2020. Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was re-elected in the first round after securing a majority of the votes. Former President John Dramani Mahama announced that he would contest the results. At the Supreme Court, a petition challenging the result was filed on 30 December, and unanimously dismissed on 4 March 2021 for lack of merit.
Mohammed Jagri is a Ghanaian politician and a coordinator. He served as a member of parliament for the Zabzugu-Tatale constituency in the Northern Region.
Isaac Kwadwo Adjei Mensah was a Ghanaian politician and was the member of parliament for the Techiman North constituency in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. He was a member of parliament in the 2nd and 3rd parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana and a Regional Minister for the Brong-Ahafo Region, as well as a Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.