Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah believes Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum would have been a better candidate to partner flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on Key Points on TV3 Saturday, the pollster said the Education Minister appeals to voters beyond the party’s base and would have given the NPP an edge in the upcoming elections.
“Adutwum could have given them a mileage outside the base,” he stated.
He is of the view that the selection of Energy Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh is simply to excite the party’s base.
According to him, the party has lost grounds at its base and with floating votes.
If the flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia were strong at the base, the party would have considered someone who appeals to floating voters, he hypothesized.
But Dr. Bawumia, he stated, is not in control of the grassroots thus, the decision to select Dr. Opoku-Prempeh to galvanize the core base of the NPP.
Musah Dankwa, however, believes Dr. Adutwum would have been a better candidate to not just galvanize party members but influence floating electorates in the polls.
“What we have seen in the data over the last 24 months, clearly NPP has an issue with floating voters, Evangelical, and among the pentecostal and charismatic churches, the numbers are not good”.
He added, “So Adutwum would have given them an opportunity to calm the fears of the evangelical voters that this person is one of our own and it is a character that I think he doesn’t create a bit of friction among the floating voters”.
Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh and Dr. Yaw Adutwum were both reported to be considered for the position.
The flagbearer, however, nominated Dr. Opoku-Prempeh and he has been endorsed by the party’s National Council.
The party is set to unveil him in the coming days.
