Political Scientist, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, says competence and a strong understanding of Ghana’s challenges, particularly on the economy, must be the deciding factors in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2026 presidential primaries, not popularity or experience alone.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Tuesday, June 24, Dr. Asah-Asante dismissed arguments that a candidate's longevity or familiarity in the political space gives them an automatic edge.

“You can be an old guy who has contested many times and is well known, but if you are incompetent, you are incompetent,” he stated. “If you don’t have the support of the people, you don’t have them.”

He was responding to the argument made by some within the Bawumia camp that it is easier to market a candidate who has already “tested the waters.”

Dr. Asah-Asante, however, countered that political success is not built on repetition but on relevance, strategy, and credibility.

• Read also: Focus on electability, not endorsements – Political analyst urges NPP delegates

“What the people want is somebody with the knowledge, with the understanding of the economy and how it works, not any propagandist style of positioning,” he added. “We want people who are the real men and understand the real issues confronting this country.”

He acknowledged that the leading contenders, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and Dr Yaw Adutwum, all bring unique attributes to the race, but ultimately, it is their grasp of Ghana’s problems and ability to propose credible solutions that will determine who emerges victorious.

Dr. Asah-Asante also stated that records, strategy, and messaging that resonate with the electorate will be the major factors that “separate the chaff from the real input.”