Pollster, Ben Ephson has said former President, John Agyekum Kufour’s father’s day comment about the vice-president, Dr. Mahamadou Bawumia, will project the latter in a pole position for the flagbearer position of the NPP.
According to the managing editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Dr. Bawumia will be accepted by top officials in the New Patriotic Party ahead of the primaries leading to the general elections.
On Sunday, June 19, 2022, John Agyekum Kufour described the vice president as a true son who acts loyally before him, at the year’s fathers day celebration.
The comment has since generated controversy within the governing party with many claiming the former head of state has indirectly declared his support for the vice president.
Ben Ephson is of the view that the comments rather give Dr. Bawumia the advantage over contestants for the flagbearship position.
“The two frontrunners are obviously Alan Kyerematen and Bawumia. People expect that the Kufuor camp still supports whole-heartedly Kyerematen… I’m not saying he is not supporting Kyerematen but Kufuor’s comments virtually give an injection to Bawumia’s acceptability amongst elderly people who will follow President Kufuor and his choices.
“I’m finishing my seventh book on Ghanaian elections. There’s a chapter on the NPP flagbearership race and I know what is being speculated that Bawumia is more of Akufo-Addo choice and the Kufuor faction is still supporting Alan. It is obviously a positive for Vice-President Bawumia,” he told Asaase Radio.
The pollster added that despite speculations suggesting that John Agyekum Kufour and Dr. Mahamadou Bawumia are not on good terms, it does not have any negative impact on the vice’s chances.
“You need to bear it in mind that Kufuor could have refused to attend the function. There’ve been innuendos of Kufuor and Bawumia not being on good terms.
“So from what we’ve been picking up, I interpret this as more of a positive, a plus for Bawumia’s campaign,” Mr. Ephson said.
