A recent survey released by Research Trust Limited, a research entity affiliated with pro-NPP think tank Danquah Institute (DI), reveals that 70% of respondents prefer Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the ideal running mate to partner with New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 general elections.

The survey gathered views from NPP executives at polling stations, constituency, regional, and national levels across the 16 regions.

A significant finding of the study, which focused on regional preferences of NPP executives for a potential running mate, showed that about nine in 10 executives (92%) preferred the running mate to come from the Ashanti Region.

When asked who in the Ashanti Region could best support the flagbearer as a running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh topped the list with 70% of the responses.

The full results are as follows:

1. Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh: 70%
2. Frema Osei Opare: 10%
3. Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum: 9%
4. Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu: 7.4%
5. D Bryan Acheampong: 1.2%
6. Naa Toshie Addo: 1%
7. Joseph Osei Owusu: 0.6%
8. Asamoah Boateng: 0.4%
9. Prof. Mrs. Rita. Akosua Dickson: 0.4%

Reasons for the choice included:

1. Resourcefulness
2. Ability to face the NDC boot-for-boot
3. Understanding grassroots politics
4. Good leadership skills
5. Generosity and kindness
6. Known party faithful
7. Popularity and marketability

Dr. Opoku Prempeh scored high marks across all indicators, including popularity and marketability (81%), ability to face the NDC boot-for-boot (78%), understanding of grassroots politics (78%), and being a known party faithful (71%).

Methodology

The survey report stated that data was collected over a three-week period (May 6 – May 26, 2024), during the flagbearer’s tour of the country.

“A total of 140 constituencies out of the 275 were sampled for the study, representing about 52% of all constituencies in Ghana.”

“The number of sampled constituencies within a region was proportional to the total number of constituencies in that region, though some consideration was made for regions where the NPP had more votes in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.”

“That is, more constituencies were sampled in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and Western relative to regions such as the North East and Ahafo regions for example.”

“In each sampled constituency, the survey aimed at interviewing four constituency executives, giving a total of 560 constituency-level data. In addition, four random polling stations within the constituency were sampled. In each sampled polling station, a total of three NPP polling station executives were randomly selected and interviewed.”

“This gave a total of 720 polling station-level interviews. An additional 4 first-time voters (2 male and 2 female where possible) in each selected polling station were sampled to respond to the questions. That is, data from 960 first-time voters were collected as part of this survey. The total sample for our analysis was 2, 240 respondents.”