Hopeson Adorye, the Director of Operations for the Movement for Change, has raised significant skepticism regarding the credibility of a recent survey conducted by Prof. Smart Sarpong. Adorye accused Prof. Sarpong of biased support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), claiming that he has direct ties with the party and is involved in Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential campaign. During an appearance on the Oyerepa Breakfast Time, Adorye articulated his disdain for the survey results, inferring that the findings were orchestrated from a standpoint that lacked genuine engagement with the electorate. He emphatically stated that Sarpong’s survey findings should be disregarded, highlighting his belief that they do not reflect the real sentiments of the public and are merely products of biased research.
The contentious survey, which was released on November 23, 2024, indicated that Dr. Bawumia was leading the presidential race with 49.1% of the votes, while former President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) trailed closely with 45.8%. However, Adorye vehemently disagreed with this assessment, suggesting that such findings are misleading and fail to capture the actual political climate. He accused Sarpong of fabricating data from his personal space without any substantive fieldwork or interaction with constituents, further diminishing the legitimacy of the survey.
Adorye’s critique of the survey extended to another notable pollster, Ben Ephson, whom he accused of previous inconsistencies and potential corruption. He asserted that Ephson’s polling predictions have proven to be unreliable, using the 2016 elections as an example where he claimed Ephson altered his predictions after supposedly receiving a bribe from the NPP. Adorye’s allegations suggest a concerning pattern of manipulation among pollsters, raising doubts about the integrity of political polling in the country. His remarks indicate a fundamental distrust within the political opposition toward the methodologies employed by surveyors and the potential impacts of their findings on public perception.
The overarching sentiment from Adorye’s comments is a belief that true electoral results will only become evident on the actual election day, scheduled for December 7, 2024. He confidently claimed that the voters would express their disapproval of Dr. Bawumia and the NPP when it matters most, dismissing the current surveys as inconsequential. Adorye emphasized that the upcoming election would serve as a decisive moment, not only for the electorate but also for the pollsters whose predictions he believes are fundamentally flawed. He positioned this electoral event as a pivotal moment that would invalidate the assertions made by Sarpong and others like him.
In Adorye’s viewpoint, it’s essential for the political dialogue in Ghana to be grounded in actual public opinions, free from perceived manipulation by established entities within the ruling party. His remarks underscore concerns regarding the influence that pollsters and their surveys wield over electoral politics, potentially swaying public opinion rather than reflecting it accurately. Adorye’s perspectives resonate with a larger narrative of skepticism prevalent among some opposition figures who feel marginalized by prevailing political structures and narratives.
In conclusion, the debate surrounding the credibility of political surveys in Ghana continues to intensify, particularly as the 2024 election date approaches. Hopeson Adorye’s strong denunciation of Prof. Smart Sarpong’s survey and his disparagement of Ben Ephson highlight the deep-seated mistrust between opposing political factions. As the election draws near, the questioning of poll validity may further complicate the political landscape, influencing voter behavior and campaign strategies. Ultimately, the actual results on December 7 will determine whether the criticisms levied by Adorye and others within the Movement for Change reflect a broader electoral sentiment or whether they are simply an articulation of the frustrations felt by those outside the current ruling paradigm.
