The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has raised concerns about what he describes as a “disguised lead” for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the upcoming Akwatia by-elections.
Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, August 23, Mr. Dankwah said voter behavior in the constituency often makes polling results less reflective of the true electoral outcome.
“We observed an unusual behaviour of voters in Akwatia. They don’t really disclose honestly who they will vote for. For example, the Ga Adangme and Ewe. When they are in Akan-dominated areas, they hide their true colours as to how they will vote; they turn to hide it. So the NPP’s lead is a disguised lead,” he explained.
According to him, although the NPP candidate, Solomon Asumadu, currently leads with 49.7% in surveys, economic realities and development dynamics could tilt the race in favor of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate.
“Development projects in the area put the opposition candidate at a disadvantage. Economic conditions are generally positive, and that will favour the NDC candidate,” Mr. Dankwah stated.
He stressed that the general economic well-being of the people in Akwatia, attributed to improvements in the national economy, might not translate into an outright victory for the NPP, as underlying voter sentiments remain unpredictable.
The Akwatia by-election has become a high-stakes political battle, with both the NPP and NDC keen on securing the seat as momentum builds towards the 2024 general elections.
