Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana and also CEO Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has told the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to address the many issues that caused their defeat in the 2024 general elections.
He expressed the view that the NPP risks disintegration if it fails to address the many issues.
Speaking on the upcoming Akwatia byelection on TV3’s Key Points Saturday, August 30, he said, ” The NPP risks disintegration if it fails to address the many issues bordering how they are conducting themselves ahead of this by-election and the ultimate flagbearership race.”
For his part, a Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil, said that the Akwatia by-election will not make any difference in terms of the numbers in parliament, especially for the New Patriotic Party.
He suggested that the NPP rather focus its energies on its upcoming flagbearer elections.
“What difference does it make in parliament? On a scale of importance in NPP, this is one per cent. What they have to focus on is the election of their flagbearer,” he said.
For his part, an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Ghana, Prof. Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya, expressed the view that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should have allowed the wife of the late MP for Akwati to contest in the by-election.
That would have attracted some sympathy votes, he said.
“NPP should have considered the spouse of the deceased MP. I have no idea about how much was done in terms of consultation between the NPP and the deceased’s family.
“If that was done, then the party, in its own wisdom, found it not necessary to field the spouse,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 30.
Prof. Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya further noted that incumbency advantages play a critical role in by-elections.
He made the point that the focus has been on who the government is, to continue to develop projects
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 30, he said, “Incumbency plays a very critical role in by-elections…the belief that when they vote for you, the government will continue your project
“It is not about who will bring development; it is about who is in government.”
For his part, the Executive Director of the Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, expressed the view that sympathy for the late lawmaker for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, will not influence the voting pattern in the by-election.
He says the voting will be influenced by economic development and job opportunities.
Mussa Dankwah further stated that a significant number of senior high school graduates and tertiary students in Akwatia will vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in the by-election.
He said that most of the voters of the late MP for the area, Ernest Yaw Kumi, who have switched camp, are students.
Asked whether he found out the reason for the students’ decision to vote for the NDC candidate, he answered, “For them, it is about improving the quality of education in the constituency.”
“Those with senior high school qualifications are looking for sustainable jobs,” he added.
Mussa Dankwah further said he is absolutely sure that the National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate, Lawyer Bernard Bediako, will win the Akwatia by-election against the NPP candidate, Solomon Asumadu.
A new poll by his firm Global InfoAnalytics had suggested that the NDC is likely to win the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
The survey shows that the NDC’s parliamentary candidate, Lawyer Bernard Bediako, is projected to secure 53% of the votes, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Solomon Asumadu, is expected to garner 47%.
In a social media update on Friday, August 29, the Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, explained that Bediako’s lead is driven largely by voters prioritising development, as well as strong support among SHS and tertiary-level voters.
The poll also noted that 57% of voters intending to cast their ballots based on sympathy hold JHS education or no formal qualifications, with sympathy votes accounting for 4% of overall priorities.
