The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics Mussa Dankwa has suggested that the New Patriotic Party would have had a stronger electoral performance if Kennedy Agyapong had been its flagbearer instead of Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.
Speaking with Paul Adom Otchere on Good Evening Ghana, Mussa Dankwa analysed the ethnic dynamics of the Ghanaian elections, emphasising that the majority of the members of the New Patriotic Party are Akans.
“The demographics of the NPP voters are largely Akans. Now you have an Akan base but your candidate come from a different tribe, it will be difficult to galvanize the Akans. There are people who are NPP just because they are Akans. They feel the NPP is their party. So when you give the Akan what is alien to them, it will be difficult to galvanize them.” He said.
He argued that some voters align with the party primarily because of their ethnic identity, making it harder to energize the base when a non-Akan candidate is presented.
“During the polling season, when you put an Akan candidate against John Dramani Mahama, the gap shifts. Kennedy Agyapong was doing better against John Dramani Mahama than Bawumia did.” He stated.
Mussa Dankwa further argued that if Kennedy Agyapong had been chosen as the party’s running mate, it would have significantly boosted voter turnout among certain NPP supporters who felt alienated by Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia’s candidacy.
His comments reflect ongoing debates within the New Patriotic Party regarding the role of ethnicity in Ghanaian elections and whether the party’s traditional stronghold responded differently to Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia compared to previous Akan-led tickets.
Watch the full discussion from this link: Good Evening Ghana
