Music Is Not Enough to Help Party Win Elections – Keynote Speaker | Policy

Professor Hans Kweku Anderson, Senior Professor in the Department of Basic Education of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), said that the relationship between politicians and musicians over the years has undeniably given to politicians a way to better educate the electorate about what they are able to do if voted in power.

"Politicians believe that music has a decisive advantage over the dissemination of information to the electorate during election periods. They are always asking for support from musicians to reach their target audience, "he said.

Dr. Anderson, who spoke with the Daily Graphic in an interview about the role of music in politics, said that although music had a role to play in the political campaign, that alone could not guarantee the victory of a political party, because there were other factors. to consider to enable them to gain power.

Dr. Anderson also teaches music and dance, principles and theory of music, music movement and theater, and principles of curriculum development in primary schools.

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According to him, factors such as campaign messages, promises and strategies had to flow well with the electorate to enable him to make decisions.

The personalities challenging the positions of the flag bearer and the antecedents of political parties are other factors, ie, they were able to fulfill their mandate, particularly if that party had already been in power.

"These factors, among others, contribute a lot to the elections. Otherwise, the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would not have lost the 2012 elections with such a beautiful song, Nana Oy3 Winner, composed by Daddy Lumba.

"The same thing happened to former President John Mahama in the 2016 elections. The song Onaapo composed for the election campaign was by far one of the best songs, but he lost the election," he said. highlighted.

Marketing

Dr. Anderson was of the opinion that the political songs composed over the years focused on the marketing of presidential candidates rather than on what was contained in the party manifestos.

He said that in the case of the NPP, from former President John Agyekum Kufuor to current President Akufo-Addo, their names figured in almost every song composed for them. This situation, he said, is no different than that of former President Mahama, whose name was heard in all the songs used for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign.

"So it's not the manifesto that they want to use music to sell to the people, but rather to enhance the image of their political leader," he said.

manifestos

Political parties, he said, could sum up their manifestos in songs so that the electorate could understand the package it was proposing to them in terms of development and social interventions. .

However, he said, the stories should not be too long, otherwise the music would be boring.

Dr. Anderson said that music has a big impact on social life and that whenever politicians get together, they play music, not necessarily music composed directly for the party, but any music that would raise their souls and give them energy.

He said that James Varrick Armaah's Asem papa bia song was not composed for the NPP but that President Akufo-Addo had somehow adopted it and that it had been played since then. their last campaign at the Ghana Trade Fair Center.

"This song is however used as a way for the president to express his joy and also to thank his creator," he said.

Dr. Anderson has said without a doubt that music has had a significant impact on the country's political landscape over the years and that its impact can only be badessed by research done by politicians or interested people. to know these results.