A member of the campaign team for New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has emphasised that the popularity of a candidate plays a decisive role in determining electoral outcomes.

Speaking on Adom TV on Tuesday, Kwasi Kwarteng Esq explained that voters often make decisions based on the personal appeal and influence of a candidate rather than the political party they represent.

He cited Kennedy Agyapong’s long-standing dominance in the Assin Central constituency as an example, noting that the NPP consistently won the seat only after Mr Agyapong entered the race in 1996.

“Ken took the seat for 24 years, and when he stepped out, the party lost. It shows that sometimes people don’t vote for the party, but for the individual whose influence in the constituency outweighs that of the party,” Mr Kwarteng said on the Mpensenpensemu Show.

He also pointed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s political journey as another example of how personal popularity can drive electoral success.

“Even though Akufo-Addo had not been vice president or vice-presidential candidate for many years, his popularity was strong enough to carry him through. In 2008, he nearly won in the first round, and by 2016, his popularity helped him secure victory,” he noted.

According to Mr Kwarteng, Ghanaians’ calls for “four more for Nana” instead of “four more for NPP” in the 2020 elections underscored how personal appeal can transcend party loyalty.

He added that President Akufo-Addo’s votes increased from 5.8 million in 2016 to 6.7 million in 2020, a testament, he said, to the power of individual popularity.

“The point I want to make is that the popularity of a candidate matters. People voted for Kennedy Agyapong, not just for the NPP,” he emphasised.