A Lecturer at the School of Communications at the University of Ghana, Dr. Etse Sekanku, says Ghanaians must have some considerable amount of interest in the democratic process of the United State because it has some bearing on the country directly or indirectly.
The US goes to the polls on November 8 2016, a day after Ghana’s general elections.
The first contest leading to the US elections was held on Monday in Iowa with Texas Senator Ted Cruz beating Republican favourite Donald Trump.
[contextly_sidebar id=”aPvs64q8gNZSBmhEs0kn4IF7WQUcWQMm”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dr. Sekanku also outlined a number of reasons why the US elections should be utmost concern to Ghanaians.
Influential role in international politics
He explained that within the international political system, “we all know the role that the United States plays and we all know this skewed agenda setting and influential role in setting policies within the global sector; be it in the UN, UNFPA, environment, climate change, economic policies, everybody agrees with that.”
Pseudo leader of free world
Dr. Sekanku also added that America is seen as the “pseudo leader of the free world” hence we should be concerned. This was evident in pressure it mounted on some countries to accept same sex marriages “and we have seen the example with the Gitmo detainees,” he explained.
Ideologies of their leaders can affect us too
The Communications Lecturer further argued that ideologies held by leaders of America will in the short or long-term affect developing countries like Ghana which usually depends on the US for aid.
“We do know the front role that this country plays in global politics and we should be concerned with the kind of ideologies and issues that these people are running on. Because if any of them wins the election, it’s going to have an effect on us. Look at Donald Trump for instance with his view on immigration; I bet you, if he gets into the White House, it’s going to have several implications on us in terms of our trade with the United States, in terms of our economic relationship, political, social and things like that so we should be concerned,” he added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana