Election 2024: Ghanaians want Alan vs Mahama but NPP wants Bawumia

Election 2024 is just over a year away but the race to lead the NPP into the election is still far from certain. Unlike the NDC which has already selected its candidate by unanimously endorsing John Dramani Mahama at the polls, the NPP will have theirs in November.

According to Global Info Analytics, the voters who do not particularly align with one political party, often referred to as floating voters would prefer Alan Kyeremanten to lead the NPP. The research findings said the former Trade and Industry Minister is more popular with the ordinary Ghanaian due to his consistency.

Alan Kyeremanten has made several attempts at leading the NPP as its presidential candidate. He made the first attempt in 2007, falling to Akufo-Addo. A second attempt in 2010 saw him fall behind Akufo-Addo again and his last attempt was in 2016 when Akufo-Addo secured an overwhelming 94.35% to Alan’s 4.75%. He is touted by many as the perfect replacement for Akufo-Addo but Mahamudu Bawumia who partnered Akufo-Addo as running mate since 2008.

His consistency is what Mussa Dankwa of Global Info Analytics said endears him to the voters, giving Bawumia a headache. Per the results as revealed by Dankwa, Alan leads with 54% while Bawumia trails in second position with 46%.

“The big story is that Alan is the preferred choice of floating voters. He’s popular amongst floating voters. Alan has been consistent throughout. Amongst all Ghanaian voters, 54% of them said they will vote for Alan, they said they prefer Alan. 46% said they will prefer Dr Bawumia,” Mussa Dankwa told Citi TV’s Point of View host Bernard Avle.

One of the candidates also in the mix to replace AKufo-Addo to lead the NPP in 2024 is Assin Central lawmaker Kennedy Ohene Agyapong who the polls show to be more popular among the general populace than in his party. He has 21% of floating voters on his side according to the poll results.

“Kennedy Agyapong followed by 21% amongst floating voters. He’s much more popular across the country than he’s within NPP as a fraternity,” Mussa Dankwa revealed.

However, despite Alan’s popularity among Ghanaians, his popularity is not on the same level internally. The study shows that 45% of the NPP voters want Alan as their leader while 55% want the vice president Dr Bawumia as their candidate.

According to Mr Dankwa, “When you ask NPP voters, the table turns, 45% for Alan and 55% for Bawumia”.

This revelation presents a challenge for both leading contenders ahead of the November primaries and an even bigger task for the NPP in their bid to break the 8. If Bawumia wins the internal race, he is likely to lead the NPP to opposition based on the study’s findings. And while Alan is popular externally and has a better chance of winning the elections for the NPP, he is unlikely to make the cut in the NPP’s internal elections per the study’s findings.