Manifesto is a shopping list, not every promise will be fulfilled – Dr. Joshua Zaato

Policy Analyst and Senior Lecturer of the Political Studies Department at the University of Ghana, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato has said manifestoes of political parties are same as a shopping list.

He argued that, just like a Christmas shopping list where not every item on the list is purchased at a mall, political parties cannot fulfil all promises on their manifestoes.

Speaking in an interview on TV3 ahead of the launch of the NPP’s manifesto launch on Sunday, August 18, Dr. Zaato asserted that despite this political parties on overall have done enough to achieve their manifesto promises.

“A manifesto is a wish list, it is just like a shopping list and we all know. You take a shopping list to the market and you don’t come out with everything you want.

“No political party will come out with a manifesto that they don’t dare to dream…That is no political parties will say I have achieved 100% of my manifesto,” he explained.

He added: “My point is that if we are being fair to political parties, they have done most of the bigger policy items that they campaign on, they have achieved them.”

He further emphasised that legislative decisions, courts and public opinion sometimes hinder the achievement of promises by political parties because their promises may not augur well with citizens.