CDD: Citizenry prefer parliamentary candidates who provide infrastructural devt

A study conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has indicated that the citizenry are likely to vote for parliamentary candidates who provide infrastructural development than those who promise financial support to individuals.

It emerged that in competitive constituencies, such infrastructural promises work whether or not a candidate and the voter belong to the same political party, whereas in non-competitive constituencies, pledges only influence voters who belong to the candidate’s party.

Conducted in November-December, 2018, the study provides a systematic analysis of  the types of constituency services that influence voters’ choice and whether the effects differ by partisanship and electoral setting.

Conducted by Dr George Ofosu, an associate of CDD-Ghana, the survey employs a forced choice conjoint experiment, with a sample of over 2000 citizens located in 12 constituencies. Respondents were asked to choose between two hypothetical candidates contesting for parliamentary elections in their constituencies with a set of attributes and values of each attribute respondent saw was random, helped to estimate causal effects.

In a release detailing its findings, CDD-Ghana said equally important to voters was the commitment, dedication and determination of candidates to regularly organise community meetings to listen to their concerns and debrief them on parliamentary debates.

The research also showed candidates who offered to attend or financially support social events (funerals, help deal with government bureaucracy or secure state employment are likely to be voted for than those who do not).

“The candidates’ profession has no effect on their chances of being selected,  hailing and living in the constituency is more preferable and both female and male candidates are equally preferred, citizenry prefer candidates who provide infrastructure compared to those who promise to give financial support to individuals.

“Citizenry are likely to choose candidates who pledge to spend majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs) Common Fund on public infrastructure compared to who plans to use a little or none of the fund for the purpose, in contrast, voters are only 7 percentage points likely to pick politicians committed, dedicated and determined to spend funds to provide private benefits.

“While some citizens are likely to vote for candidates who will organise regular community meetings every month, others are likely to vote for those who promise to organise meetings every three or six months,” the release said. –citinewsroom.com