[View the story "Turning 'likes' into votes" on Storify ]Turning 'likes' into votes Can social media determine Ghana's next president? Storified by The Stream · Mon, Dec 03 2012 12:45:43
In the days and months leading up to Ghana's December 7 elections, candidates and civic organisations are using social media-savvy techniques to engage the Ghanaian electorate to get out the vote. Below, main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo of the National People's Party explains his campaign focus:
Nana Akufo-Addo On Social Mediananaakufoaddo2012
Neither
Afuko-Addo or incumbent candidate
John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress is the most popular candidate on Facebook. They both trail Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People's Party, who is
known as Ghana's "Facebook President" with 177,000 likes on his
profile .
Beyond popularity on social media, candidates have notably integrated media platforms in their campaign outreach. In September, Afuko-Addo
hosted an "eDialogue" forum on youth issues in the election. Ghanaian voters submitted questions and comments to the candidate via Facebook and Twitter.
Via Facebook page "Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo"AJstream
Afuko-Addo responded at a town hall meeting that was broadcast live on his website, YouTube channel and local radio stations.
e-Dialogue Pt.1nanaakufoaddo2012
Google Ghana has actively
participated by training local journalists, live-streaming presidential debates and hosting Google+ Hangouts ahead of the election.
Below, Convention People's Party candidate Michael Abu Sakara Foster speaks with Ghanaians about his campaign platform via Google + Hangout:
Hangout with Dr Abu Sakara, Presidential Candidate of CPPghanadecides
Google Ghana has also used hangouts as a forum for community organisations to discuss issues related to the campaigns, such as this mini-series on women's involvement in Ghanaian politics:
Women + Elections Conversation 2: Media and Female Candidates, Ghana Elections 2012ghanadecides
One of Google Ghana's primary partners is local blogging project
Ghana Decides . The project, led by Blogging Ghana, engages NGOs, CSOs, political parties and the general public with one another through social media platforms.
Below, blogger
Jemila Abdulai introduces the Ghana Decides video campaign on electoral issues. The video received responses on
education , disability issues, private and public
business partnerships, and
healthcare :
Ghana Decides Tag: Election 2012 Video Campaignghanadecides
One of the major initiatives of Ghana Decides was the #iRegistered campaign, designed not only to encourage voter registration but to spread information about the country's new
biometric voter registration process, which uses finger printing to verify voter identity.
The group asked Ghanaians across the country to tweet pictures of their registration process with #iRegistered and #GhanaDecides. Photos were then shared via
Flickr and
Instagram .
Fred Dogbe, student, KNUST registered on Sunday. Have you? #iRegistered #GhanaDecides http://pic.twitter.com/k648Lut6Ghana Decides
Via Instagram user @GhanaDecidesAJstream
Via Instagram user @GhanaDecidesAJstream
Via Instagram user @GhanaDecidesAJstream
Below, Google Ghana manager Estella Akofio-Sowah speaks about the importance of the #iRegistered campaign:
Estelle Akofio-Sowah (Google Ghana Manager) on iRegisteredghanadecides
Some have questioned the emphasis on social media campaigns, given that Ghana has less than
10 per cent internet penetration.
Via AfrographiqueAJstream
Though social media may only reach a small segment of Ghana's voting population, that segment could be meaningful in a close election. Maka Fridausu notes that the country's 2008 election was
too close to call in the first round of voting and incredibly close in the subsequent run-off vote. Fridausu goes on to say that in this year's similarly tight race, small social media populations should not be ignored:
Recalling how election '08 was close to call and the difference of 40,586 votes between the candidates, politicians should not underestimate the power of Facebook to galvanise, canvass and rake-in floating voters and keep their loyal supporters up-to-date with information and news.Social Media Is Playing A Role In Ghanas Election 2012 - ModernGhana.com
According to Social Bakers, Facebook alone
reaches a majority of Ghanaians on the internet, and 6.8 per cent of the total population. Most of the country's Facebook users are of voting age and a majority of them are between 18 to 34-years-old:
Via Social BakersAJstream
Throughout the election, Ghana Decides plans to share information about polling locations and the voting process, particularly via SMS messaging. STAR-Ghana will also run an SMS campaign in which Ghanaians on the ground can
notify the African Elections Project of electoral incidents:
Ghanadecides
Good morning #Ghana! You can check/confirm your Constituency, Polling Station & Status as a Registered Voter by SMS. #LetsVote December 7, 2012. via #<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GhanaDecides" class="">Ghana Decides</a>[rgp] Reporting on Ghana's Presidency
Mac-Jordan Degadjor, Technical Advisor for Ghana Decides,
explains that although Ghana may lack communications infrastructure, use of mobile and social media is the most forward-thinking tactic for the democratic country:
If any organisation wants to get a message to youth today they shouldn’t focus on the electronic and print media alone, but they should think mobile because mobile is the future of Ghana and Africa.DFID Bloggers » Mobile technology is helping Ghana decide its future
Better late than never. My SpeakGhana submission. cc @GhanaDecides #OurVoteOurVoice #GhanaDecides http://pic.twitter.com/sCd9i9WZJemila Abdulai
