Mahama commands electoral advantage in Global InfoAnalytics’ year-end poll
In a comprehensive year-end survey conducted by Global InfoAnalytics, significant shifts in Ghana’s political landscape have emerged, with John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) surging ahead in popularity over the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Key Highlights from the Poll:
- Presidential Race: With almost eleven months remaining until the 2025 elections, John Dramani Mahama commands a robust lead with 53.2% of the prospective votes, while Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia trails at 29.6%. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, a former Trade and Industry Minister, garners 7.7% support, indicating a considerable gap between the leading contenders.
- Regional Dynamics: A notable revelation is Mahama’s dominance across all regions, marking a historic first where he even leads in traditional strongholds of the NPP, such as the Ashanti and Eastern regions. The narrowing margin in the North-East region suggests a competitive landscape.
- Policy Priorities: The electorate’s priorities manifest prominently in their endorsement of the “24-Hr Economy” slogan/policy, resonating with 50% of respondents. In contrast, the “Blue Economy/Digitization” garnered 25%, followed by the “Great Transformational Plan” at 8%, while 17% remained indifferent.
- National Sentiment: A prevailing sentiment of disillusionment is evident, with a staggering 68% of Ghanaians expressing concerns about the nation’s trajectory. Concurrently, a majority of 63% disapprove of the incumbent president’s performance.
- Economic Outlook: The economic pulse reveals growing discontent, with 54% of respondents reporting a deterioration in their standard of living over the past year—a notable uptick from 47% in October 2023.
- Parliamentary Prospects: The NDC appears poised for a parliamentary majority, with 52% of voters leaning towards NDC candidates—a surge from 46% in October 2023. Conversely, the NPP’s prospects have dwindled to 31%, declining from 38% in the preceding survey.
- Institutional Confidence: In a positive indicator for electoral credibility, 58% of voters express confidence in the Ghana Police Service’s capacity to oversee the 2024 elections. Additionally, a majority (54%) trust the Electoral Commission (EC) to manage the electoral process effectively.
- Social Divides: The poll elucidates divisive factors within Ghanaian society, with 56% identifying politics as the primary cleavage, followed by ethnicity (27%) and religion (17%). However, an overwhelming majority remain unperturbed by considerations of candidate ethnicity (74%) or religion (76%) in their voting intentions.
Conducted between 22nd – 30th December 2023, the survey encompassed 5,881 respondents across all 16 regions and 82 constituencies, providing a comprehensive snapshot of Ghana’s evolving political landscape as the nation approaches a pivotal electoral juncture in 2025.
