A nationwide survey conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has revealed that Ghanaian voters regard honesty and integrity as key qualities required from a leader in the forthcoming elections.
The study solicited the views of 7,491 respondents to rank the best qualities of a good leader and in answering this, as high as 4,761 ranked honesty and integrity as the best qualities they expected to find in a leader.
In addition 3,608 respondents stated fairness as the other quality, while handsomeness, as well as wealth, trailed as the least expected from voters.
The report made interesting reading as the educational background of respondents revealed that many of them who had basic educational qualification (l, 782) ranked honesty and integrity as the best qualities as those with secondary education numbering 1,207.
The nationwide survey also sought the views of the respondents on the issue of corruption which had 239 responses (45.3 per cent) urging punishing corrupt officials severely to serve as deterrent to others.
The respondents also called on the government to strengthen state institutions that deal with corruption issues in the country.
Also, responses were given to the enforcement of corruption laws in the country with some suggesting that the government should embark on a vigorous public education on the dangers and negative side of corruption.
Others were of the view that the government ought to pay appropriate wages, which would enable leaders to lead exemplary lives, in order to curb corruption.
The respondents also urged the government to review the assets declaration laws for people in authority.
The study, on the topic: "Election 2012: Matters of Concern to the Ghanaian Voter" was carried out in March 2012 with the main purpose of identifying the important matters that were of concern to the Ghanaian voter with the view to informing issues-based campaigning towards the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Some of the specific objectives of the study were to provide political parties with issues that voters would like them to address, analyse matters of concern based on gender and age and identify whether there were any differences among voters.
The study involved 7,497 respondents. Out of the number, 3,665 (representing 48.9 per cent) were males while 3,782 (representing 50.4 per cent) were females. The same pattern was maintained across most regions except the Greater Accra, Eastern and Northern regions where more females than males responded to the questionnaire.
Age differentials of respondents also confirmed that young persons constituted an emerging critical group in democratic development in the country.
A total of 2,107 (constituting 28.8 per cent of the respondents) were people from 21 to 30 years. They were followed by a youthful age group of between 31 and 40.
The largest proportion of the respondents had basic education as their highest attainment.
A questionnaires instrument was developed and used to capture the primary data which entailed 25 questions, both closed and open ended. The questionnaires were administered by 230 research assistants in both English and local languages.
A sampling gap of three and five for sparsely and densely populated communities respectively was observed.
The study covered four electoral areas in each of the 230 constituencies.
The data was coded and entered into computer and analysed by the NCCE Research Department using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The survey also revealed that education was ranked as the most important issue of concern to the voter.
<<Print>>