Polling expert and Managing News Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson, has provided his insights into the potential top five candidates ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s super delegates conference.
Envisaging a participation of 961 delegates on August 26, 2023, these delegates will cast their votes to narrow down the field of 10 presidential aspirants from the NPP to a final selection of 5. This chosen quintet will subsequently compete in the ultimate flagbearer competition set for November 4.
Among the 10 aspirants, three prominent figures have emerged as front-runners: Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, and Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
This trio are accompanied by former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Joe Ghartey, energy expert Kwadwo Opoku, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Energy Boakye Agyarko, former Mampong Member of Parliament Francis Addai-Nimoh, and former Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku.
All these contenders are vying for a coveted spot in the top 5.
Nevertheless, speaking on Starr FM, Ben Ephson has streamlined the field to a more manageable number.
Confidently, he singled out three candidates whom he believes are virtually certain to secure positions in the top 5: Kennedy Agyapong, Alan Kyerematen, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. For the remaining two slots, he suggests that a fierce contest will take place among Joe Ghartey, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Boakye Agyarko.
Ephson dismissed the notion that the outcome of the impending NPP super delegates conference will perfectly mirror the main election slated for November 4.
He cautioned against assuming that the preferences of a relatively small group of approximately 1000 delegates can be extrapolated to represent the sentiments of a larger cohort of 200,000 individuals.
Furthermore, Ephson cautioned that Kennedy Agyapong’s influential standing might potentially lead to a runoff scenario in the final race.
Looking ahead, Ephson shared his projections, stating, “If Alan places 2nd tomorrow, I won’t be surprised. But if Alan places 2nd on November 4, I will be surprised. By November, I believe Alan will be relegated to a distant third position, with a substantial gap between the top two contenders, Bawumia and Ken.”
