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The COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effect on countries around the world over. As at November 22, over 55.6 million and 1.34 million people globally have been infected and killed respectively by COVID-19. Africa accounts for only 3.7 percent (2,057,299 people) and 3.7 percent (49,415 people) of the number of infections and deaths in the world. It has been suggested that the low rate of testing for the disease in Africa might be one of the reasons for these low figures. Most governments, especially in Africa are unable to do mass testing of COVID-19 because of financial constraints associated with setting up of laboratories for testing and buying of test kits. Currently, there is no vaccine for this deadly disease; however, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as at November 12, 48 candidate vaccines are in various stages of clinical evaluation for prevention of COVID-19, and a vaccine is expected to be available in the near future. Considering the huge financial cost associated with laboratory testing of COVID-19 and the development of its potential vaccine, it is necessary to assess individuals’ and societies’ willingness to pay for these.As part of AIDRE’s COVID-19 socio-economic survey, we examined individuals’ willingness to pay for COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Ghana and South Africa. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to respondents through electronic mails and social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and WhatsApp. The data collection was conducted between May, 22 and July 22, 2020; and 2,291 individuals took part in the survey. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FINDINGS 1. Willingness to Pay for COVID-19 Testing 38% of Ghanaians and 36% of South Africans are not willing to pay for COVID-19 Testing. Majority of those who are not willing to pay for COVID-19 test believe that it is their governments’ responsibility to pay for them. Lack of money is the second reason for not willing to pay. Few Ghanaians (4.1%) and South African (8.9%) who indicated not willing to pay for COVID-19 testing believe that COVID-19 is not real For both countries, majority are willing to pay any amount between US$1 to US$5 for COVID-19 Testing 12.5% of participants from South Africa are willing to pay over US$20 for COVID-19 testing while only 3.9% of those from Ghana are willing to pay such amount Average WTP for COVID-19 testing in Ghana is US$10 and that of South Africa is about US$20. 2. Willingness to Pay for COVID-19 Vaccine 29% and 25% of participants from Ghana and SA respectively are not willing to pay for COVID-19 vaccine. Majority of those who do not want to pay for a potential COVID-19 vaccine believe the government should pay for the cost of vaccine. The second most cited reason is the disbelief in vaccines. For both countries, majority of participants are willing to pay US$1 to US$15 for COVID-19 vaccine. However, while about 18% of participants from South Africa are willing to pay above US$60 for potential vaccine, only 3.5% of those from Ghana are willing to pay that amount. Average WTP for COVID-19 vaccine among respondents from SA is four times (US$80.37) that of Ghana (US$20). image source: www.ris.world

The current covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had significant adverse effect on world democracies, especially elections scheduled this year, 2020. In order to protect the general public from spreading the virus during electioneering activities, there have been calls for countries to either postpone and re-schedule initially planned elections, or consider alternative voting processes and procedures. Per constitutional requirement, Ghana is scheduled to have its general elections (presidential and parliamentary) on 7th December, 2020. AIDRE’s current research project on COVID-19 and Elections, with Ghana in focus, seeks to investigate perception of voters towards the elections in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, voter behaviour and preferences, and to among others, explain the issues are important and thus, may affect voters’ decisions in Ghana’s 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, self-administered questionnaires were sent to respondents through electronic mails and social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp, with a total of 1,958 individuals responding to the survey. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FINDINGS 1. Satisfaction with government’s COVID-19 measures    o High Satisfaction with COVID-19 measures    o Only 3% of respondents were not satisfied with COVID-19 measures 2. COVID-19 Measures likely to affect election 2020    o 69% of voters said government’s COVID-19 measures will influence their voting pattern 3. Postponement of December 2020 Election    o 38% of voters said the General election should not be postponed    o 36% of voters said the General election should be postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic    o 26% of voters are indifferent between postponement and non-postponement of the election 4. Majority of people who voted for NDC and NPP in 2016 will vote for the same party in 2020    o 80% of NDC and NPP voters in 2016 will vote for the same party in 2020    o Few voters in 2016 will change their voting pattern in 2020    o 17% of NDC voters in 2016 will vote for NPP in 2020    o 16% of NPP voters will vote for NDC in 2020 5. Low level of ‘skirt and blouse voting’ in 2020:    o 9% of those who will vote for the NDC Presidential candidate will vote for NPP parliamentary candidate    o 8% of those who will vote for the NPP Presidential candidate will vote for NDC parliamentary candidate 6. Education affects voting pattern    o Majority of voters with less than SHS education will vote for NDC    o NPP is popular with the educated 7. Education, economic stability, infrastructure and health are the main reasons for voting pattern in 2020    o For the poorest, infrastructure is the second most important reason for their voting in 2020    o Among the richest, economic stability and education are the main reasons for their voting in 2020 8. High non-voters and undecided voters    o 22% of voters have not decided on whom to vote for    o 22% of electorates will not vote