A special poll conducted in five key constituencies in the Western Region by Global Info Analytics in Takoradi, Sekondi, Effia, Essikado-Ketan, and Kwesimintsim reveals widespread voter dissatisfaction with the country’s direction and strong disapproval of the president’s performance ahead of the 2024 general elections. The results suggest a volatile political landscape, with economic conditions driving voter decisions.
National Sentiment and Presidential Approval
The poll shows that 69% of voters believe Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, while only 15% feel the country is on the right track. Additionally, 68% of respondents disapprove of the president’s performance, with just 23% approving.
On personal well-being, 47% of voters say their standard of living has worsened in the last year, while 37% saw no change, and only 9% reported an improvement.
Party Manifestoes: Credibility in Question
When asked about the credibility of party manifestoes, 30% of voters favor the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s proposals, while 22% support the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s manifesto, and just 3% believe in the Movement for Change (M4C) plan. A notable 45% of voters had no opinion on the manifestoes. In Takoradi, however, 61% of voters favor the NDC’s “Resetting Ghana” manifesto, compared to 11% for the NPP’s “Bold Solutions for Jobs and Business.”
Voter Preferences: Mahama Leads
If elections were held today, former president John Dramani Mahama (JDM) would lead with 35.7% of the vote, followed by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) at 22.7%. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen (AKK) and Nana Kwame Bediako (NKB) trail with 3.8% and 3.5%, respectively, while 12.3% remain undecided. Among committed voters, Mahama’s lead widens to 53%, followed by Bawumia at 34%.
Party Loyalty and Floating Voters
In terms of party loyalty, 3% of NPP voters intend to vote for Mahama, while 93% remain loyal to Bawumia. Among NDC voters, 98% plan to vote for Mahama. Floating voters, who are critical to the outcome, favor Mahama with 63% support, followed by 14% for Bawumia and 11% for Kyerematen.
Parliamentary Races: Close Contests and Upsets
The poll highlights key parliamentary races across the constituencies:
- In Sekondi, Andrew Agyapa Mercer of the NPP holds a strong lead with 52%, but 87% of his supporters are open to changing their minds.
- In Essikado-Ketan, Charles Bissue (NPP) leads with 44%, while Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah (NDC) follows closely with 36%.
- The Kwesimintsim race remains highly competitive, with Prince Hamid Armah (NPP) leading with 33%, while Philip Fiifi Buckman (NDC) trails with 24% and independent Joe Mensah follows at 8%.
The Effia constituency is expected to flip to the NDC, with Abdul Majeed Nassam leading Isaac Boamah Nyarkoe (NPP) 73% to 14%.
Takoradi also seems set for a significant upset as NDC’s Frederick Faidoo leads incumbent MP Kwabena Otchere Darko-Mensah by 61% to 13%.
Methodology
The poll was conducted between August 25 and September 1, 2024, using Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI). A total of 2,381 respondents across the five constituencies were sampled, with a margin of error ranging from 1.92% to 4.5% and a 95% confidence level.
As the election draws near, the results suggest that economic issues and leadership dissatisfaction will be key determinants in the outcome of this pivotal Western Region vote.
Below is the full content of the research:
Source: www.kumasimail.com
