The latest opinion poll by Global InfoAnalytics has revealed significant shifts in voter sentiment in the Greater Accra region, indicating formidable challenges for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its four traditional strongholds.
With just six months remaining before the general election, the poll results from selected constituencies suggest a potential loss of voter support to the governing New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
In four key constituencies, including Okaikwei Central, Okaikwei South, Anyaa Sowutuom and Trobu where the ruling New Patriotic Party previously held a dominant position, the opposition National Democratic Congress flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama is now leading with 40.5%.
However, the Vice President and the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on the other hand, trailed behind at 36%, with Nana Kwame Bediako of the New Force securing 1.8% while the founder and leader of Movement for Change, Alan Kyeremanten garnered 1.7%.
Additionally, 10.4% of voters expressed their intention not to vote in the upcoming general elections while 9.4% of voters remain undecided.
Parliamentary Contest
Furthermore, the outcome of the polls on voters’ intention on which parliamentary candidate they will vote for in the four key constituencies in the Greater Accra Region suggests a trend of “skirt and blouse” voting, where voters distinguish between their presidential and parliamentary choices.
This is evidenced in the report by the fact that all the ruling party’s parliamentary candidates in the four constituencies in the Greater Accra Region outperformed their presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
“Analysis of the poll shows that in all four BLUE constituencies, there is strong evidence from the data to suggest “skirt and blouse voting” tactical voting as all NPP candidates outperform their presidential candidate”.
Global InfoAnalytics Greater Accra Special Polls Report
For instance, in the Okaikwei Central Constituency, Honorable Patrick Yaw Boamah, the incumbent NPP Member of Parliament (MP), led the parliamentary race with 50.5%, a narrower margin compared to his previous 19% margin victory in the 2020 general elections
His main rival, the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate, Baba Sadiq garnered 36% support with notably, 6.9% of voters intending to abstain from voting, and 7.6% undecided.
In Okaikwei South, the incumbent Member of Parliament, Honorable Darkoa Newman’s chances of retaining her seat are hanging by the thread as polls show the race is tied with her leading with 40.4%, followed closely by Ernest Adomako, 38.5%. 10.6% are undecided and 10.5% will not vote.
Here, it is important to start that polls indicated that in the 2020 general election, the incumbent Member of Parliament won her race with nearly 22% margin against her closest competitor.
Such tactical voting indicates voter dissatisfaction with the NPP’s presidential leadership while still showing support for its parliamentary representatives.
Moreover, in the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency, Elder Emmanuel Tobin, the governing New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate led the race with 41.8% against the party’s incumbent and outgoing Member of Parliament, Honorable Dickson Adomako Kissi, who won the seat in the 2020 general elections by nearly 30% victory margin.
Mr Tobin was followed by Emmanuel A. Allotey, the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate, who secured 31.9%, with Grace Ashley of the Movement for Change, garnering 2.7%, while undecided voters were 10.1% and I will not vote were 13.5%.
Finally, the polls result revealed that in the Trobu constituency, Gloria Owusu, the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate who ousted Honorable Moses Anim in the party’s parliamentary primaries led with 44.8%, while the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate, Dr John Kofi Halm secured 36.7% as against Honorable Moses Anim victory margin of nearly 28% in the last election
The remaining voters according to the polls were either undecided (5.8%) or did not intend to vote (12.2%).
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