The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and a campaign team member for Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Stephen Amoah, has suggested that, among other factors, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia may have benefited from sympathy votes to secure victory in the constituency during the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primary.

The outcome in Nhyiaeso surprised many party supporters, given Dr Amoah’s prominent role in Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign.

In the Ashanti Region constituency, Dr Bawumia won 379 of the 695 votes cast, while Mr Agyapong placed second with 221 votes. Dr Bryan Acheampong polled 91 votes, Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum secured four votes, and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong received none.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, Dr Amoah said that although his team worked diligently and was hopeful of a stronger showing for Kennedy Agyapong, several factors appeared to have worked in Dr Bawumia’s favour.

“I think one of the things that worked for Dr Bawumia was sympathy votes because I was with my late chairman (Nhyiaeso NPP Chairman) campaigning for Dr Bawumia, his wife was brought in, talked to the whole delegates, pleaded with them that they should look at the death of her husband and said her husband said that they shouldn't vote against Dr Bawumia. And trust me, Ghana is a very traditional place, and we are very sympathetic, and I am sure all these things played for him,” he claimed.

Dr Amoah further noted that the margin between the two leading contenders in the constituency reflected a familiar pattern.

“If you realise the difference between Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, it was almost the same as what prevailed the other time (2023 primary),” he added.

Following the polls on Saturday, January 31, the Electoral Commission officially declared former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the winner of the NPP’s 2028 presidential primary after he secured an outright majority of valid votes cast.

A total of 196,462 ballots were cast nationwide at 333 voting centres, with 561 rejected. Dr Bawumia obtained 110,640 votes to clinch the position.

Results of the five aspirants:

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia – 110,640 votes (56.48%)

Kennedy Agyapong – 46,555 votes (23.76%)

Dr Bryan Acheampong – 36,303 votes (18.53%)

Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum – 1,999 votes (1.02%)

Kwabena Agyei Agyepong – 102 votes (0.21%)