Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1992, the Upper West Region has remained a stronghold for the National Democratic Congress . Across seven general elections, the NDC has consistently won more than half of the presidential vote and over 70% of the parliamentary seats.
This article delves into the factors behind the NDC’s enduring electoral dominance in the UWR, despite development efforts by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
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Historically, the accepted explanation for this loyalty has been that the NDC’s predecessor, the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), extended significant developmental initiatives to the region. However, if voting preferences were solely based on development, why hasn’t the NPP been able to sway the region?
A deeper analysis reveals that political loyalty in the UWR is generational, rooted in the historical context of the region’s creation. On 14 January 1983, PNDC Law 41 decreed the establishment of the Upper West Region, carved out of the Upper Region.
The socio-economic and political opportunities that came with this decentralization remain highly valued by the region’s population. These developments, seen as foundational to the region’s growth, are closely associated with the NDC, forming the backbone of the party’s popularity.
The NDC has successfully maintained this loyalty by invoking the historical significance of the region’s creation and the tangible benefits it brought to its people. In its election campaigns, the party often capitalizes on these historical memories of decentralization and progress, ensuring that the NDC is seen as the party that represents the UWR’s past, present, and future.
In a nutshell, while development is certainly a factor, the generational loyalty and political symbolism attached to the NDC in the Upper West Region have been crucial in maintaining its electoral dominance, making it a formidable stronghold for the party.
