The latest Afrobarometer report, which has got many people talking, has revealed that neither the ruling NPP or the opposition NDC is likely to secure a first-round victory if elections should be held today.
This means that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the presidential candidate of the NDC, John Mahama are both likely to secure just about 50 per cent or less of the total votes cast.
According to the constitution of Ghana, Article 63/3, any candidate running for the office of the president in Ghana must secure 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast during the elections.
NDC’s Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi believes this report is a plus for his party. He said, if the survey is used as a basis for any analysis, it means the 2020 elections would result in a run-off.
In his words, he said, “And you know since the start of the Fourth Republic [26 years ago] the incumbent has never won an election in a
Sammy believes the findings of the Centre for Democratic Development’s (CDD) in the report, is good news for the NDC, saying, their own polls show the NDC will emerge victorious in the elections.
The Information Minister, Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has however stated government is not worried about the findings in the report. He only wants the full report to be released for the perusal of everyone.
Hon Nkrumah on his part also says, polls conducted by his party also show the NPP will retain power in December 2020, after only one round of voting.
The report indicates that, though none of the parties is likely to get the necessary 50 per cent plus one vote in the first round of elections, the NPP is much closer to doing so, than the NDC is.
