Concerns over jobs and unemployment have emerged as the dominant issue among National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegates, with 78% expressing worry about job opportunities and economic prospects.
Despite this, optimism remains strong within the party base, as 88% of delegates believe the situation will improve in the near future, compared to just 3% who are pessimistic.
These findings come from a nationwide telephone poll conducted by Global InfoAnalytics, which surveyed about 10,400 NDC delegates across all 16 regions using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). The study, conducted between March 31 and April 9, 2026, carries a 99% confidence level with a margin of error of ±1.7% to ±1.9%.
Amid these grassroots concerns, the race to lead the NDC into the 2028 elections is intensifying. The poll indicates that the current frontrunner is the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who leads the flagbearer contest with 29%. However, his advantage is narrowing as Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson gains momentum, rising to 19% support among delegates.
Other contenders include former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with 11%, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah with 8%, and Vice President and academic Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang also polling at 8%. Meanwhile, 24% of delegates remain undecided, suggesting significant room for shifts in the coming months.
The tracking data shows a tightening contest. In an earlier baseline survey, Asiedu Nketia led Ato Forson by 16 percentage points, but that gap has now narrowed to about 10 points as undecided delegates increasingly shift toward the Finance Minister.
In the second wave of the poll, Forson recorded a 7-point increase, while Haruna Iddrisu gained 4 points, and both Julius Debrah and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang rose by 2 points each. Asiedu Nketia saw only a marginal 1-point increase, while undecided voters dropped by 12 percentage points.
In simulated head-to-head matchups, Asiedu Nketia maintains an edge but faces tighter competition, particularly against Forson. Against Haruna Iddrisu, he leads 42% to 22%; against Julius Debrah, 43% to 18%; and against Ato Forson, the race narrows to 37% versus 32%, with 31% still undecided. In a separate matchup, Forson leads Haruna Iddrisu 42% to 19%, highlighting his growing competitiveness within the delegate base.
Delegates are also prioritizing leadership qualities in their decision-making. Performance is the most important factor at 74%, followed by vision (53%), effective governance experience (35%), party loyalty (20%), and personality (20%). Less emphasis is placed on youth (8%), gender (1%), and ethnicity (1%).
Overall, while Asiedu Nketia remains the frontrunner, the data points to a fluid and highly competitive race, with Ato Forson rapidly closing the gap. With a significant share of delegates still undecided, analysts suggest the contest for the NDC’s 2028 flagbearer remains wide open.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
