John Mahama
Following the statement by UK based Economic Intelligence Unit that it expects the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present a fresh candidate for the 2024 general election, another survey also shows that majority of Ghanaians do not see former President Mahama as their popular choice of candidate
The new survey, conducted by European Public Policy Institute, has reported that about 61 per cent of its respondents do not want the opposition party to present Mr Mahama again, as against 39 per cent who want him to give the presidency another shot.
Out of those who do not want him to run again, 47 per cent say presenting Mr Mahama again will be suicidal for the NDC.
According to a report from the survey, 10 per cent of the respondents said ‘they are tired of’ him while five per cent said he is incompetent. Again, four per cent of the respondents want him to retire from active politics; three percent say he has no vision while 30 per cent say they do not have any reason but just do not want him to contest again.
Survey
The ‘Political Overview Ghana National Survey’ was conducted in January this year. The researchers sampled 1258 eligible voters using phone interviews. It had a margin of error of +/- 3%, and was conducted in all 16 regions of the country, with an age range of 18 years and above. Fifty-three per cent of females in urban areas against 47 per cent males as well as 44 per cent females and 56 per cent male rural dwellers were sampled.
Out of the sample surveyed, 57 said they voted for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the 2020 general election; 37 per cent voted for John Mahama, while seven per cent voted for the other presidential candidates.
Voters’ choice
Sixty per cent of the respondents said their voting decision in the 2020 general election was informed by the party/government policies; 23 per cent said they voted depending on the political party; while 17 per cent said their decisions were informed by the choice of presidential candidates. Some 94 per cent maintained that they will vote for the parties they voted for in 2020 again in 2024 while six per cent said they may change their choice.
On the two most important issues that informed voters’ choices, 76 per cent said management of the coronavirus pandemic, while 46 said the economy, particularly jobs, recovery of the economy, and helping of businesses.
Generally, 74 per cent of the respondents said their decision was informed by the management of the coronavirus pandemic; 21 per cent said recovery of the economy; 18 per cent said improving health care; 16 per cent for caring for jobs and livelihoods; 16 per cent for high level of corruption; 11 per cent for finishing of road projects; and nine per cent for peace and security.
The other factors are seven per cent each for helping businesses and eliminating ‘double track’; six percent each for paying back depositors whose funds are locked up in the collapsed banks and other fund management companies; and for stopping the Agyapa royalties deal, among others.
Mahama’s replacement
Meanwhile, the report found that 27 per cent of the respondents want the NDC to present Alban Bagbin as its candidate for the 2024 general election; 18 per cent are undecided; 16 per cent want Haruna Iddrisu; 12 per cent want Dr Kwabena Duffour; 10 per cent each want either Joshua Alabi or Asiedu Nketia; three per cent want Kwame Awuah Darko; two per cent each want either Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang or Spio Garbrah; while one per cent want Sammy Gyamfi.
In the case of core NDC members and sympathisers, 33 per cent opted for Alban Bagbin, 17 per cent for Haruna Iddrisu; 12 per cent each for either Dr Kwabena Duffour or Asiedu Nketia; 10 per cent want Joshua Alabi, with eight per cent undecided. Also, three per cent want Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang; two per cent each want either Spio Garbrah or Kwame Awuah Darko, with one per cent opting for Sammy Gyamfi.
For NPP members who were contacted on a possible replacement for John Mahama in the NDC, 24 per cent were undecided; 24 per cent opted for Alban Bagbin; 15 per cent were for Haruna Iddrisu; 10 per cent were for either Joshua Alabi or Dr Kwabena Duffour; nine per cent were for Asiedu Nketia; three per cent for Kwame Awuah Darko; two per cent for Spio Garbrah; and one per cent for either Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang or Sammy Gyamfi.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh
