Prof. Smart Sarpong’s Science And Data Research Tips Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah To Win Manhyia South Parliamentary Primaries
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unanimously approved Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, as the running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Elections. This decision was made during an emergency meeting held in Accra on Thursday, July 4th, 2024. With NAPO stepping up to the national stage, the NPP now faces the task of selecting a suitable replacement for his parliamentary seat in the Manhyia South Constituency.
In anticipation of the special election set for Sunday, July 14th, 2024, a Science and Data study was conducted by Professor Smart Sarpong, an associate professor of Statistics at the Kumasi Technical University to gauge the preferences of delegates for NAPO’s successor. The study focused on three critical indicators: Most Unifier, Most Visible, and Best Personality. These attributes are considered essential in determining the electability of a candidate within the political landscape.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah Emerges as the Front-runner
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has emerged as the overwhelming favorite among delegates. He secured the highest ratings across all three key criteria, establishing himself as the leading candidate to replace NAPO. According to the study:
Most Unifier: 72.5% of delegates view Awuah as the most unifying candidate.
Most Visible: 73.3% of delegates see him as the most visible.
Best Personality: 73.5% of delegates judge him to be the best personality to step into NAPO’s shoes.
Awuah’s strong showing in these categories reflects his broad appeal and significant presence within the constituency. His ability to unite, maintain visibility, and possess a compelling personality makes him a strong contender in the upcoming election.
Other Contenders in the Race
While Awuah leads the field, other candidates have also garnered support, albeit to a lesser extent:
Owusu Afriyie Prempeh: Seen as a unifier by 21.4% of delegates, visible by 20.7%, and judged the best replacement by 20.5%.
Akwasi Coker Gyambibi: Viewed as a unifier by 0.5% of delegates, visible by 0.5%, and judged the best replacement by 0.5%.
The study also noted that no delegates anticipated the entry of Mr. James Owusu Boakye into the race during the data collection period, resulting in zero points for him across all three criteria. Additionally, expected candidates like Kingsley Bobsu-Kyeretwie and Kwabena Addo Amankwah did not file for the contest.
Uncertainty Among Delegates
Despite Awuah’s dominant position, 5.5% of delegates remained uncertain about their choice at the time of data collection. This indicates a small but notable portion of the electorate is still deliberating on their preferred candidate.
Conclusion
As the NPP gears up for the special election on July 14th, all eyes will be on Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who stands as the clear favorite to succeed Matthew Opoku Prempeh in the Manhyia South Constituency. His strong support among delegates positions him well for victory, but the final decision will rest in the hands of the voters come election day.