2028 Presidential Election: Ghanaian Voters Favor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia – New Survey Reveals
A newly released national survey suggests that Ghanaian voters would most likely support a 2028 presidential race between Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The findings offer an early glimpse into the political future of Ghana, as the country anticipates a post-2024 leadership transition.
The comprehensive survey was jointly conducted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a prominent German political foundation. It focused on voter behavior during the 2024 general elections, as well as succession preferences within Ghana’s two dominant political parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Naana Jane Leads NDC Succession Race
According to the data, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who served as running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama, is emerging as the most favored successor among NDC supporters. She was named the most suitable candidate by 35.5% of respondents within the party base.
Trailing behind her in popularity were:
Haruna Iddrisu – 14.9%
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – 10.2%
Johnson Asiedu Nketia – 8.3%
Julius Debrah – 2.2%
However, a significant portion—25.6%—of NDC-affiliated respondents remained undecided on who should lead the party into the 2028 elections. This underscores ongoing internal debates and possible leadership gaps that could influence future party strategies.
Dr. Bawumia Maintains Strong Lead in NPP
On the NPP side, the survey revealed a dominant preference for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who garnered 49.3% of support among NPP-aligned voters. His closest contender, Kennedy Agyapong, the outspoken Member of Parliament for Assin Central, secured 24.6% support.
Other potential NPP candidates received minimal backing:
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum – 2.6%
Dr. Bryan Acheampong – 0.8%
Boakye Agyarko – 0.6%
Notably, 21% of NPP respondents stated they were unsure who should lead the party, reflecting some level of uncertainty despite Bawumia’s strong showing.
Survey Sample and Demographics
The survey sampled 16,988 respondents across all 16 regions of Ghana. A diverse group of participants—including traders, artisans, and farmers—offered insights into grassroots political sentiments and emerging trends in voter behavior.
Shift Towards Issue-Based Voting
Beyond succession preferences, the survey explored the motivations behind voter choices in the 2024 elections. Findings indicate a significant shift toward issue-based voting, with 73% of respondents citing party manifestos as their main influence. Additionally, 46.2% of voters made decisions based on the likeability of presidential candidates.
According to Dr. Joseph A. Darmoe, Director of Programmes at KAS and Senior Lecturer at GIMPA, these numbers suggest that Ghanaian voters are gradually moving away from traditional party loyalty in favor of substance and policy.
“Voters are moderately moving away from strong party affiliation. Party manifestoes are as critical as your campaign expenditure,” Dr. Darmoe emphasized.
This trend could significantly impact how political campaigns are designed in future elections, with parties being encouraged to focus more on policy articulation and credible manifestos.
A Resource for Democratic Development
Mrs. Anna Lena Sabroso Wasserfall, Country Representative of KAS Ghana, highlighted the importance of the survey as a tool for democratic growth. She noted that the data was compiled to benefit political parties, civil society, journalists, researchers, and policymakers.
“Our motivation to carry out this study and to make an additional contribution to empirical political discourse in Ghana derives from our self-understanding as a political foundation,” she stated.
The study is expected to guide strategic planning, promote transparency, and encourage more inclusive political dialogue in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2028 elections.
Tags: Ghana Elections 2028, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NDC, NPP, Voter Behavior Ghana, GIMPA Survey, KAS Ghana, Political Trends Ghana
