Alan, Akuffo-Addo in fiery Tie

IT IS BECOMING increasingly clear and very difficult to predict among the New Patriotic Party aspirants as to who would get the nod to lead the party in the upcoming flagbearership contest slated for Saturday, 22nd December, 2007.

Currently all the 18 aspirants have outlined their leadership and governance qualities as well as visions for the country to the party delegates.

A research organization by name Fame Group (Gh) has conducted a 6-month Simple Random Sampling Technique survey in the Greater Accra Region to find out who among the contestants Ghanaians prefer the NPP delegates to vote for to lead the party into election 2008.

The survey puts former Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative Minister; Mr Alan Kyerematen popularly called “Alan Cash” and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo in a clash point, indicating a very dicey encounter among the aspirants.

The survey puts three of the aspirants, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku in second tie with significant votes, reaffirming the tightness of the race.

The survey drew its population from the Greater Accra region with its sample size pegged at 2000 Ghanaians within the various busy markets in Accra.

The occupation of the targeted population predominantly ranged from market women, street hawkers, owners of retail and wholesale shops to corporate organizations and institutional workers.

The aim of the survey, conducted by Fame Group (Gh), using Greater Accra Region as a case study, was basically to find out from Ghanaians who their preferred candidate will be and possibly show the potential delegates who Ghanaians will prefer to lead them come December 2008.

The above targeted population received 6 open ended questions, structured in two parts on popularity and who best addresses topical socio-economic issues bedeviling the nation plus interviews to realize the objectives of the study.

Extract from the popularity carve indicates that out of 2000 respondents interviewed, 500 went for Mr Alan Kyerematen, representing 25 percent whilst Nana Akufo-Addo also received 500 votes, representing 25 percent.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku had significant votes, according to the survey.

Former Works and Housing Minister, Hackman Owusu Agyemang got 260 votes while Dr. Apraku had 240 with Veep Aliu Mahama garnering 150 votes representing, 13, 12 and 7.5 percents respectively.

Other aspirants that followed were Dr. Addo Kufuor, with 104 votes representing 5.2 percent; 60 votes for Mr Dan Botwe, representing 3 percent; Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo, 45 votes representing 2.25 percent; Mr Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, 35 votes representing 1.75 percent; Prof (Dr) Frimpong Boateng and Paapa Owusu Ankomah, 30 and 25 votes representing 1.5 and 1.25 percents respectively.

Mr Jake Obestebi Lamptey got 18 votes, representing 0.9 percent; Captain Rtd Nkrabeah Effah Darteh, 15 votes representing 0.75 percent; Prof Mike Ocquaye, 15 votes representing 0.75 percent whilst Felix Owusu Agyapong pulled 3 votes representing 0.15 percent.

Candidates who recorded no votes in the survey were, Dr. Boakye Agyarko and Dr. Arthur Kennedy, who for strange reasons, had remarks like being new in the Ghanaian political dispensation and therefore must go through the hard drill as experienced by their colleague party members years back.

On the second part of the questionnaire which dealt with candidates who are dealing with the real core issues bedeviling the country, it came out that of the 2000 respondents interviewed 312 went for Mr Alan Kyeremanten, representing 15.6 percent whilst Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman followed with 203 votes, representing 10.15 percent.

Dr Arthur Kennedy, Prof Frimpong Boateng and Alhaji Aliu Mahama also pulled significant votes in the category bordering on how candidates were addressing current issues confronting the nation.

Dr Arthur Kennedy had 200 votes; Prof Frimpong Boateng pulled 197 and Aliu Mahama got 190 votes, representing, 10.0 percent, 9.85 percent and 9.5 percent in that order.

The other aspirants that followed were Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who scored 188 votes representing 9.4 percent; Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, 105 votes representing 5.25 percent; Mr Kwabena Adjei Agyepong, 100 votes representing 5.0 percent.

The rest were Dan Botwe 90 votes; Yaw Osarfo-Marfo 79 and Prof Mike Ocquaye 79 votes, representing 4.5 percent, 3.95 percent and 3.95 percent respectively.

Dr Addo Kufour received 67 votes; Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, 63 votes and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku 59 votes, representing 3.35 percent, 3.15 percent and 2.95 percents.

The rest were Paapa Owusu Ankomah 40 (2.0 percent); Captain Rtd Nkrabeah Effah Darteh 26 votes (1.3 percent) and Dr. Boakye Agyarko 2 votes (0.1 percent).