The Central Region of Ghana, a historically significant swing region in the nation’s electoral landscape, appears to be leaning heavily towards the National Democratic Congress (NDC) according to recent polling data by Global InfoAnalytics. This independent research firm’s study reveals a stark contrast in party affiliation, with the NDC commanding a 52% majority compared to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 19%. This dominance is observed across various demographics, including age, gender, and education levels. The findings suggest a solidified base of support for the NDC in a region known for its ability to sway the outcomes of national elections.
The NDC’s stronghold in the Central Region is evident across all educational strata, indicating a broad-based appeal that resonates with voters regardless of their academic background. This implies that the party’s message and policies are reaching and connecting with individuals across a diverse spectrum of educational attainment, a crucial factor for maximizing electoral success. Furthermore, the NDC’s appeal transcends generational divides, capturing the majority of the vote share among younger demographics (18-54) and maintaining a lead even among older voters, albeit with a slight dip compared to the younger cohorts. This suggests a strong party identity and enduring loyalty amongst NDC supporters, contributing to their overall majority in the region.
The dominance of the NDC is further reinforced by the gender breakdown of the survey data. While the overall party affiliation favors the NDC at 52%, the male demographic exhibits an even stronger preference with a 55% inclination towards the NDC. Among female voters, the NDC maintains a significant lead at 50%. Interestingly, the NPP’s support base, although significantly smaller at 19% overall, shows a similar trend regarding gender. This contrasts slightly with the firm’s suggestion that the NPP performs marginally better with female voters, possibly attributing this to the NPP’s free education policy resonating with single mothers. However, the overall data still paints a picture of strong NDC support among both genders.
The NPP, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle in the Central Region. Their overall support of 19%, including 18% among male voters and 19% among female voters, highlights the significant ground they need to cover to become competitive with the NDC. While the free education policy might be a contributing factor to their relatively consistent performance across genders, it hasn’t translated into widespread support in the region. The NPP needs to identify and address the factors contributing to their lower appeal amongst voters if they intend to challenge the NDC’s dominance.
This disparity in party affiliation is mirrored in the 2024 general election results within the Central Region. John Mahama, the NDC candidate, secured a resounding victory with 58.51% of the votes, translating to 560,333 ballots cast in his favor. Conversely, the NPP candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, received 381,825 votes, representing 39.87% of the total votes cast. This significant margin of victory for the NDC further underscores their stronghold in the region and the challenges faced by the NPP. The election results serve as a stark reminder of the on-the-ground reality reflecting the polling data, demonstrating the NDC’s firm grip on the Central Region’s electorate.
In conclusion, the Global InfoAnalytics poll reveals a dominant NDC presence in the Central Region of Ghana. Their commanding lead in party affiliation across all levels of education, age groups (with a slight dip among the oldest demographic), and gender solidifies their position as the preferred party within the region. While the NPP has implemented policies like free education that may resonate with specific demographics, their overall support remains considerably lower. The 2024 election results clearly reflect this disparity, demonstrating the significant challenge the NPP faces in closing the gap with the NDC in this crucial swing region. The reasons behind the NDC’s sustained popularity and the NPP’s struggle to gain traction in this region warrant further investigation and will likely play a crucial role in shaping the future political landscape of Ghana.
