Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, has highlighted the Takoradi enclave, including Essikado-Ketan, Effia, Kwesimintsim, Sekondi, and Takoradi, as an area of concern for voter apathy.
Dankwah indicated that the voter distribution in this area reveals 38.2% as floating voters, 6.4% supporting minor parties, 11.1% undecided, and 22.3% shared between NPP and NDC, and 22% unaffiliated.
He pointed out that floating voters in areas where the NPP has traditionally been strong tend to favor the NPP while floating voters in NDC strongholds typically incline toward the NDC
“The real floating voters who really stand in the middle are floating voters from swing constituencies and as a result, the parties must be really worried about how floating voters are behaving there in perceived strongholds. In the case of the Western region, the NPP must really be concerned about apathy in these constituencies”.
Mussa Dankwah
Dankwah further revealed that the poll indicated a notable disparity in voter turnout intentions between the two parties, with 5% of NPP supporters indicating they will abstain from voting, compared to a significantly lower 1.3% of NDC supporters who express a similar intention.
He pointed out that this translates to a striking ratio, where for every one NDC supporter who opts out of voting, four NPP supporters will also abstain.
The pollster revealed that a significant portion of floating voters leaning towards the NPP, specifically 25%, intend to abstain from voting.
Additionally, 27% of voters with undisclosed party affiliations, who are likely NPP supporters, also plan to sit out the election.
Dankwah noted that given the area’s history as an NPP stronghold, it’s reasonable to assume that the NPP has a stronger base than the NDC.
He noted that, therefore, it’s likely that voters who choose not to reveal their party affiliation are actually affiliated with the NPP.
“The economy-driven apathy will define this election and NPP will suffer because of it”. – Mussa Dankwah
Youth Apathy Hits Western Region
Furthermore, Mussa Dankwah revealed that in the Western region, a staggering 50% of young people aged 18-34 have expressed their intention not to vote.
Dankwah indicated that this trend suggests that young people are becoming increasingly disillusioned with democracy and the political class, leading to a loss of hope and engagement in the electoral process.
“68% of voters between 18-24 believe Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, in line with some of the findings of recent Africa youth research. For those between 25-34 years, a staggering 75% believe it is headed in the wrong direction”.
Mussa Dankwah
He further observed that, aside from NPP loyalists, a consensus emerges across other party affiliations, with the majority expressing a negative assessment of the country’s direction, believing that Ghana is on the wrong path.
According to Dankwah, a substantial majority of voters think Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, including 34% of NPP supporters, 74% of floating voters, 85% of supporters of other parties, and 76% of those who didn’t disclose their affiliation.
He indicated that the most striking figure comes from NDC voters, with a whopping 89% expressing a negative view of the country’s direction.
Mussa Dankwah cautioned that the polling numbers from the Western region’s constituencies, where the NDC has consistently failed to win any parliamentary seats since 1996, should be a sobering reality check.
These numbers should serve as a wake-up call for political parties and politicians who care about the political landscape and the NDC’s prospects in this region.
In the lead-up to elections, political parties must prioritize paying attention to polls, especially amidst the current economic situation.
The economic climate has a profound impact on voter sentiment, influencing their priorities and decision-making.
As voters struggle with economic hardships, their concerns and expectations from political leaders intensify.
READ ALSO: Algeria’s Presidential Election Faces Apathy Amid Economic Struggles
