In a move that has set the political landscape abuzz, unconfirmed reports indicate that Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the 2020 running mate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been earmarked as the running mate to the party’s flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, for the 2024 general elections.
This prospective nomination has garnered substantial support from leading members of the party, potentially solidifying her position as the favored choice despite earlier speculations surrounding other prominent figures.
A leading Member of the opposition party, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South Constituency, Clement Abass Apaak congratulated the former Minister of Education on the news of her re-nomination as the party’s running mate for the December 7 polls.
“Great choice, John & Jane 2024 it is. Congratulations to Prof Naana. Confirmed; Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang retained as Mahama’s Running Mate”.
Honorable Clement Abass Apaak
If the rumors prove true, it would mark a remarkable consistency for John Dramani Mahama, as he would be the only National Democratic Congress flagbearer under the Fourth Republic to retain the same running mate for consecutive elections.
Moreover, it would signify the sixth occasion where the National Democratic Congress has chosen a running mate from the Central Region since the inception of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
The crucial question now arises: What impact did Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang have on the Central Region during the 2020 general elections, and how might her re-nomination aid the National Democratic Congress’s bid for power in the upcoming 2024 general elections?
According to data from Global Info Analytics in 2020, when Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was nominated as the running mate, 27% of voters nationwide were influenced to vote for the NDC due to her selection, with an additional 29% stating they might be influenced while 44% said not at all, they will not be influenced, representing the majority.
However, in the Central region, the Global Info Analytics data showed 33%, of voters were going to vote for the NDC because of her selection, 51% said maybe, they may be influenced while 16% said not at all, they will not be influenced respectively, which was better than the national average.
NDC’s Performances Shot Up In 2020
The Executive Director for Global InfoAnalytics, Musa Danquah highlighted that the 2020 elections saw the National Democratic Congress’s largest improvement in presidential votes over an election cycle since 1996.
According to him, the National Democratic Congress’s fortunes in the Central Region improved by 2.5% compared to 2016, signifying a significant shift despite losing the region.
Mr Danquah also noted that in the parliamentary elections, the impact was even more pronounced as the National Democratic Congress gained nine additional seats in the Central Region, showcasing the region’s responsiveness to Professor Opoku Agyeman’s nomination.
He noted that in 2016, the National Democratic Congress held only four parliamentary seats in the region, making the subsequent gain of nine seats a remarkable achievement.
While the Global Info Analytics data primarily focuses on the Central Region, it strongly suggests that Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman’s impact transcended local boundaries, indicating a considerable influence on the National Democratic Congress’s electoral performance in the last elections.
Beyond regional dynamics, Professor Opoku Agyeman’s potential re-nomination as the National Democratic Congress’s running mate brings forth her gender as a noteworthy factor.
In a country where gender inclusivity remains a pertinent issue, her candidacy holds the potential to resonate with a broader demographic. The 2020 data hinted at the possibility that her gender played a role in swaying voters, especially women, towards the National Democratic Congress.
As Ghana gears up for the December 7 polls, the potential re-nomination of Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman could indeed be a game-changer for the National Democratic Congress.
Her previous impact, coupled with the potential appeal of continuity, consistency, and gender representation, positions her as a formidable asset for the opposition party in their quest to secure victory in a highly competitive election on December 7, 2024.
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