By: Jude Tackie
Renowned Ghanaian journalist and pollster Ben Ephson shares insights on the ongoing selection of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer while he cautioned against making early predictions about the general electoral outcome, stressing that the race remains highly unpredictable.
In an interview on Happy 98.9 FM with Sefah Danquah, Ben Ephson emphasized the extended time frame, stating, “13 months to the elections is a very long time,” and indicating that the outcome would largely depend on how the selected candidate is marketed by the NPP and how the opposition party responds to this choice.
He argued that conducting a poll for the December 7, 2024 election at this stage would be futile and inconclusive. Ephson questioned the validity of trying to predict the winner when key factors, such as the parties’ running mates, had not even been announced.
The veteran journalist contended, “How can you predict 13 months away who is going to win when even the parties have not announced their running mate? The race is unpredictable and there are currently no indicators to rely on. Most People are not party loyalists and you don’t know what can influence them.”
Ephson underscored the unpredictability of the race and highlighted the lack of clear indicators to rely on at this stage. He pointed out that many voters are not staunch party loyalists, making it challenging to gauge the potential influences on their decisions in the lead-up to the election.
As the NPP commences the process of selecting its flagbearer for the 2024 General Elections, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is widely considered the frontrunner.
However, Ephson’s cautionary words serve as a reminder that the political landscape is fluid and that numerous variables can come into play over the next 13 months.
The 2024 race promises to be an exciting and evolving journey, as the NPP and the opposition prepare to compete for the mandate of the Ghanaian electorate.
