SURVEY ON PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS FOR 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN GHANA PURPOSE

SURVEY ON PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS FOR 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN GHANA
PURPOSE: To test their popularity and voting pattern

SUMMARY: This report is on the various presidential aspirants of the general elections slated for December 7, 2016 of the country, their political parties and what Ghanaians think about them in terms of popularity, peace and security that will improve their living conditions in terms of development projects, job creation etc. The survey below clearly shows John Dramani Mahama as the winnable candidate for this year’s election.

This survey clearly indicates personality of four (4) candidates as very popular and details of that has been explained below Peace and Security is been clocked in favour of John Mahama as well per the responses of Ghanaians indicated by the survey below. 54% of the respondents have said the country is progressing with regards to basic social and economic conditions and details of that has been stated below. However, even though John Dramani Mahama is in the lead and hence there is a possibility of victory for Parliamentary candidates as stated below, majority of people are not willing to vote for the Parliamentary Candidates.

On the side of Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, he takes the second lead after John Dramani Mahama but has the parliamentary candidates being voted for on behalf of his party using the percentage of support of Ghanaians apportioned for Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo as elucidated below. For that matter, John Dramani Mahama has many Ghanaians voting for him which will positively affect the Parliamentary Candidates of the NDC despite some issues elaborated below. The full details of the survey can be found below.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY: 
1. Face to face interview in the language of the respondent 2. The survey interviewed 1,500 Ghanaians between the ages of 18 – 80 years of age3. This work was conducted between 29th May, 2016 to 4th August, 20164. This work and the field work was coordinated and done by Strategic Thinkers Network
NOTE: THIS SURVEY COVERS ON SEVEN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY

SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS
REGIONS.              (%) URBAN RURAL AGE
% % 18-30 31-45 46-60 ABOVE 60
% % % %
Accra.               20.5    65 35 29 36  19 16              Ashanti                  23.6 71 29 22 38 22 18 Eastern                  14.6 81 19 35 31 14 20BA.                         12.5 74 26 18 46 20 14 Northern.               10.2 62 38 31 47 11 11Upper East.            10.5 54 46 21 36 33 10Upper West.            8.1 88 12 41 38 11 10
The presentation will focus on the following findings:
1. Personality
2. Party affiliation and Impact on election 2016

PERSONALITY
Our field workers were able to find out that, four (4) political leaders are very popular among Ghanaians that is H E John Dramani Mahama (NDC), Hon Nana Akuffo Addo (NPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom (PPP), Dr Hassan Ayariga (APC). There was no single respondent throughout the survey who does not know their names and which party they belong to. Akua Donkor is very popular but not the name of her party.
Other aspirants such as Ivor Greenstreet (CPP), Dr Edward Mahama (PNC) and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (NDP) are not very familiar with the respondents. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is still known as the wife of ex-president H E Jerry John Rawlings and a member of NDC

However there is a conflicting perception among a section of the respondents who believe DR Mahmoud Bawumia is the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that is 6% with the upper east, west and northern regions and their only reason is, he is the one they have been seeing and hearing of. They easily identify him unlike Nana Akuffo Addo who is the main flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

Majority of respondents knows President John Dramani Mahama as the president and flag bearer of the governing party National Democratic Congress for the 2016 elections.

REVELATION (voting pattern)
It came out from the survey that, majority of respondents have a lot of affection for the president as compared to his political opponents. His love for one another, humility, peace, good communicator, God fearing will make them vote for him.

REGIONS.              JDM NANA NDOUM AYARIGA AKUA IVOR EDWARD KONADU % % % % % % % %

Accra.               52 27 9           4 0 5 1 2Ashanti                   46 49 1 0 0 4 0 0Eastern                   41 42 7 1 1 7 0 1 BA.                          47 34 10 2 0 5 1 1Northern.                61 28 3 3 0 3 2 0Upper East.             57 21 7 9 0 2 4 0Upper West.            55 23 7 3 0 6 6 0

With the leader of the largest opposition party, the vindictiveness within his party is likely to affect his chances. 54% of the total respondents believes he has no control of the party and as a result the continuous crisis within the party. His past utterance and that of some leading members of his party is a major factor to the negative perception of the people. 56% total also believe if the New Patriotic Party can unite and close their ranks the elections can go into second round and not a one touch victory for any contestant.

All things being equal forming alliance with other political parties can help to win the elections in the second round.

PEACE AND SECURITY

Majority of the total respondents (38%) believe the country will be safe under the presidency of H E John Dramani Mahama than his political opponents Nana Akuffo Addo (13%), Ndoum (15%), Ivor (16%), Ayariga (11%) and Edward (7%) to improve upon their basic social and economic conditions.

ASPIRANTS’ %

John Dramani Mahama 38
Nana Akuffo Addo 13
Papa Kwesi Ndoum 15
Ivor Greenstreet 16
Hassan Ayariga 11
Edward Nasigre Mahama 7

Basic Social and Economic conditions:

With regards to this, majority of respondents believe the government is on the right track with its developmental projects. Respondents attest to the fact that, they can at least see projects been undertaken in their various localities. In as much as they express worry about the cost of living mainly attributed to cost of power (faulty meters and tariffs) and availability of cash, they are optimistic things will get better.

REGIONS INCUMBENT (NDC) ECONOMY
% PROGRESSING RETROGRESSING
% %
Accra.               52 55 45Ashanti                   46 38 62

Eastern                   41 50 50 BA.                          47 47 53
Northern.                61 76 24 Upper East.             57 61 39 Upper West.            55 53 47

SUMMARY:

54% of total respondents believe the country is progressing.

PARTY AFFILIATION

Another revealing thing that came up is the fact that majority of the total respondents are willing to vote for the president and flag bearer and not the parliamentary candidate of the same party, NDC.

REGIONS.              JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
% JM PC
% Yes No
% %
Accra.               52 100 77 23Ashanti                   46 100 65 35Eastern                   41 100 83 17BA.                          47 100 78 22
Northern.                61 100 95 5Upper East.             57 100 88 12 Upper West.            55 100 97 3

With the largest opposition party NPP, some correspondents are not happy with the flag bearer but will vote for the parliamentary candidate and some also vote for the flag bearer and not the parliamentary candidate.

REGIONS.              NANA AKUFFO ADDO
% NANA PC
% Yes No
% %

Accra.               27 100 60 40 Ashanti                   49 100 82 18 Eastern                   42 100 55 45 BA.                          34 100 65 35 Northern.                28 100 22 78 Upper East.             21 100 43 57 Upper West.            23 100 36 54

SIGNED
NII TETTEY TETTEH
+233 249 659 467
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

CHARLES KWADADE
+233 249 659 467
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)