Rawlings performed very well in the 1992 elections, today we are looking at what accounted for that outcome. What contributed to the NDC winning the 1992 elections.
The NDC benefited from incumbency, it emerged from PNDC which had ruled Ghana for 10 years before the 1992 elections.
The ruling PNDC kept a firm control of the transition time table which it released to its own advantage.
After over a decade’s ban on political party activity, the new parties could not have enough time and resources to organize themselves.
There were threats to the campaign of the opposition and there was no independent media through which the opposition groups could make their voices heard.
The Nkrumahist who in 1979 united in the PNP now went into the 1992 elections as four separate parties. (NCP, PNC, NIP AND PHP).
The NPP did considerably well because it stayed united after breaking up into PFP and UNC in 1979.
The NDC benefited from its alliance with the NCP. For example the NDC performed best in the home Region of Rawlings, Volta, and second best in Central, the home region of Arkaah, his NCP running mate.
Generally, Ghanaians were afraid of what would happen if the PHDC didnot win the election.
Post Election Politics
The four parties that contested and lost disputed the results arguing that it was heavily rigged. To support its allegation of rigging the Npp wrote a book, the stolen verdict, in which it compiled electoral malpractices in 100 of the 200 constituencies.
After religious and traditional rulers tried without success to get the winning and losing groups to agree on a compromise, the opposition parties announced their boycott of the parliamentary poll.
Holdover Ministers
Rawlings was sworn in on 7 January 1993 and formed a government mostly from the PNDC era. Some of them like Kwesi Botchwey (Finance), Obed Asamoah (Foreign Affairs), Kwamina Ahwoi (Local Government & Rural Development), Mahama Iddrisu (Defence), Enoch T Mensah (Youth & Sports) would continue to hold the same ministeries as before.
Other non -MP ministers were Emma Mtichel (Trade and Industries), R Kwame Peprah (Mines and Energy) and E. M Osei-Wusu (Interior)
