Executive Director and Head of Research at Global InfoAnalytics, Musa Danquah, has cautioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against electing Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as its National Chairman while he remains incarcerated.

According to him, the party needs to focus on rebuilding its electoral fortunes ahead of the next general election rather than making a political statement by choosing a chairman who is serving a prison sentence.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Mr Danquah said the NPP must be realistic about the political implications of electing Mr Boasiako from prison.

“I don't think he will win… Because you see, the NPP needs a direction. They need to find a way to win the next election. Electing Wontumi from prison will not make that possible. They should be realistic about these things. Wontumi is not Mandela.”

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Mr Danquah argued that Ghana’s electorate has changed significantly, with a growing proportion of voters attaining higher levels of education.

He said this shift has implications for how political parties position themselves and the type of leadership voters expect from them.

“Polling shows that the majority of Ghanaian voters are highly educated now. Nearly 70% of them have senior high and above qualifications,” he said.

According to the pollster, the changing profile of Ghanaian voters means the NPP must adopt a political strategy capable of appealing to a broader and more sophisticated electorate if it hopes to return to power.

He further claimed that the NPP has already lost significant support among elite voters and warned that the party's current approach could make it more difficult to win back that constituency.

“So, the political situation has changed dramatically in this country. And these are the people who want a new type of politics. And already the polls are showing that NPP has lost their elite voters,” he said.

Mr Danquah maintained that electing Mr Boasiako while incarcerated would not help the NPP reverse that trend.

“This shenanigans will not attract elite voters to NPP. And these are the people they need to start winning their hearts and minds to win the next election,” he added.

His comments come amid controversy over Mr Boasiako’s decision to contest the NPP National Chairmanship position despite being incarcerated.

His campaign team has picked up nomination forms on his behalf, setting the stage for a potentially contentious contest over his eligibility and the broader political implications of his bid.

Mr Danquah's assessment places the controversy within the wider question of how the NPP intends to reposition itself following its defeat in the 2024 general election.

For him, the party's immediate priority should be identifying a leadership direction that can broaden its appeal and rebuild trust among voters ahead of the next electoral contest.