{
  "id": 17102920,
  "title": "Divided by Party, United in Suffering: Ghana’s dilemma of blind partisan loyalty",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/divided-by-party-united-in-suffering-ghanas-dilemma-of-blind-partisan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:46:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/divided-by-party-united-in-suffering-ghanas-dilemma-of-blind-partisan-loyalty/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana's political landscape is gripped by partisan loyalty, where supporters of the ruling and opposition parties defend their own and attack the other. The government and the opposition engage in constant press conferences, with their respective supporters rushing to their defense, accusing and countering one another. This political theatre leaves ordinary citizens struggling with unemployment, rising costs, poor services, and uncertainty.\n\nComparing this to Karl Marx's concept of religion as \"the opium of the masses,\" it seems that partisan politics in Ghana provides a comforting sense of belonging, identity and emotional reassurance. Supporters see their preferred party as representing their interests, creating a \"political community.\" However, when this attachment becomes unconditional, it can numb people's response to wrongdoings.\n\nWhen a government official faces allegations of corruption or mismanagement, supporters of the party in power rush to defend them, question the credibility of investigating institutions, or redirect attention to past administrations. The same action, whether committed by the incumbent or opposition party, is interpreted differently based on partisan lines. This creates an \"us versus them\" mentality, where success for one's side is celebrated as competence, while failure by the opposing side is minimized.\n\nThe divide trap, a psychological phenomenon, drives citizens to become so invested in their political groups that they interpret reality based on their party's success or failure. People accept information that confirms their beliefs and dismiss that which challenges them, leading to a focus on whether something benefits their political side rather than its objective truth. This shift in perspective means that accountability should ideally lie with political parties, but citizens are increasingly feeling accountable to their parties instead.",
  "summary": "There is something deeply troubling about the way politics has come to occupy Ghana’s public space. Every morning, from television and radio programmes to conversations in taxis, offices and homes, we encounter the same political theatre.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}