Former Western North Regional Minister and Director of Elections for Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign team, Joojo Rocky Obeng, has declared that Kennedy Agyapong is poised to win the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer contest for the 2024 general elections.
Mr. Obeng cited Agyapong’s commanding lead in six key regions of Ghana, which collectively account for roughly 70 percent of the NPP’s total delegates, as a clear indicator of his inevitability in the race.
“These six regions are critical to the NPP’s internal election process,” Mr. Obeng explained, noting that they comprise Volta, Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti regions. “Anyone who understands how delegate elections work in the NPP knows that Ken has already won this election. The majority of delegates are concentrated in these regions, and Ken is leading in all of them.”
Delegate Support Remains the True Measure of Victory
Obeng argued that the true strength of any candidate lies not in polls or media projections, but in grassroots support among delegates. “These regions account for about 70 percent of the total delegates in the NPP. If you control them, you have effectively won the race,” he said, underscoring Agyapong’s widespread backing at the local level.
He also compared the scenario to the 2022 Kenyan presidential elections, where William Ruto defied polling predictions to defeat Raila Odinga. “Before InfoTrack predicted a winner, it generally meant that candidate was close to winning. In Kenya, InfoTrack and other institutions forecasted Odinga would win, giving him a significant share of the vote, while Ruto was predicted to secure only 41 percent. Yet Ruto ultimately triumphed,” Obeng noted.
The comparison, he said, illustrates that polling, while informative, does not always accurately capture the realities of complex delegate-based elections.
Concerns Over Polling Accuracy in Delegate Elections
Mr. Obeng further raised concerns about the methods used in conducting polls, particularly within the NPP’s delegate-based voting system. He suggested that some polls may not fully reflect delegate sentiment.
“I’ve had instances where delegates have questioned how the polls are conducted without even consulting them. When you look at our electoral area, and even ask those in the next area, no one has come to speak with us. Perhaps other scientific methods are used, but there is always a risk that polls could fail,” he said.
Obeng emphasized that the definitive measure of a candidate’s support is tangible backing from delegates on the ground rather than media projections or polling predictions.
Revisiting the 2023 Flagbearer Contest
The former regional minister recalled the 2023 NPP presidential flagbearer race, highlighting the intense competition Kennedy Agyapong faced, particularly from former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
“Despite facing significant opposition and pressure from the then-government, Kennedy Agyapong secured over 17,000 votes, narrowly trailing Dr. Bawumia, who had just over 19,000 votes in the Greater Accra region,” Obeng said. “This margin of about 2,000 votes shows how competitive the race can be, especially in critical delegate-heavy regions like Greater Accra.”
He suggested that the 2023 contest demonstrates Agyapong’s resilience and ability to mobilize support, which he believes positions him strongly for the upcoming 2024 NPP primaries.
NPP Primaries and the Road to 2024
The NPP is preparing for highly competitive primaries, with five confirmed candidates officially contesting for the party’s flagbearership ahead of the 2024 general elections. The primaries are scheduled for January 31, and are expected to shape the party’s strategic direction, candidate positioning, and campaign narrative for the national elections.
Obeng remains confident that Kennedy Agyapong’s popularity in the six pivotal regions will secure him the party’s ticket. “When you consider the distribution of delegates and Ken’s lead in these key regions, it is clear that he is the frontrunner,” he said, urging party members to recognize the strength of grassroots support in determining the outcome.
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