Kwaku Azar Lists 10 Key Reasons Why Governments Lose Elections
Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, a Ghanaian legal scholar based in the United States, has outlined ten critical mistakes that, in his view, often lead ruling parties—such as the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—to lose elections, including Ghana’s recent 2024 general election.
Referencing insights reportedly drawn from the *Ocquaye Report*, a document believed to have been authored by former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, Professor Azar commented on what he describes as the “top 10 reasons why governments lose power.” Though he noted that he has not personally seen the report, he based his analysis on what has been widely shared about page 66 of the document.
Here are the ten reasons he outlined:
1. **Broken Promises**: Failing to deliver on campaign promises erodes public trust and disillusionment quickly follows.
2. **Sudden Wealth Among Leaders**: When leaders appear to enrich themselves rapidly, it raises suspicions of corruption and angers voters.
3. **Abuse of Power**: Misusing political authority to control institutions like the police or judiciary undermines democracy and creates public resentment.
4. **Incompetent Appointments**: Appointing individuals based on loyalty instead of competence often leads to dysfunction and inefficiency in governance.
5. **Echo Chambers**: When leaders surround themselves only with those who agree with them, they lose touch with reality and are shielded from critical feedback.
6. **Flaunting Wealth**: Public displays of luxury by politicians while ordinary citizens struggle create deep social frustration.
7. **Silencing Critics**: Targeting whistleblowers while rewarding those who mislead or flatter the government damages accountability and transparency.
8. **Neglecting the People**: Ignoring the everyday concerns of citizens, especially those who supported the government, results in a loss of connection with the electorate.
9. **Weaponizing the Law**: Using legal systems to harass political opponents instead of ensuring justice fosters fear and weakens the rule of law.
10. **Complacency**: Believing they are too popular to lose, some governments ignore public dissatisfaction—until it’s too late.
In summary, Kwaku Azar warns that governments risk electoral defeat when they break promises, indulge in corruption, abuse authority, appoint loyalists over capable professionals, ignore dissent, flaunt wealth, punish critics, forget the common citizen, misuse legal institutions, and become overconfident.
His reflections have sparked conversation across social media, especially among those analyzing the NPP’s performance and broader issues of governance in Ghana.
Source: [Kwaku Azar on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/100000180680772/posts/pfbid02Qcc5cC6PdXQQJSsUhs2fgYZpZo9krWyArANSNbYFWw4b8L4Yi6fuGswfmvSDgUvYl/)