Pollster and Managing Editor of the Dispatch Newspaper, Ben Ephson, has expressed skepticism about Kennedy Agyapong’s departure from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the November 4, 2023 flagbearer race.
Mr Ephson’s doubt is based on his belief that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is likely to win the party’s primaries on that date.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, Ephson suggested that Ken Agyapong would remain with the NPP if there is fairness and no attempts to marginalize or threaten his supporters.
He noted that Bawumia is perceived as the establishment candidate and mentioned past incidents where NPP members openly supporting a different candidate faced consequences.
Ephson emphasized the significant number of supporters that an establishment candidate can gather and the challenge of controlling and silencing them. In this context, he cited that Akufo-Addo faced such challenges when he was not the establishment candidate.
“I think that if there is fairness, if there are cases of intimidation I think that Ken will be on board. During his campaign obviously, he has made those slogans that if there is fairness there would be no problem. I doubt if there will be an attempt to try and marginalize any of his supporters or threaten any of his supporters.
“Everybody will realize that Bawumia is obviously the establishment candidate. In 2007, the numbers were not so huge but Alan Kyerematen lost. In 2007 Ministers of State who were seen openly supporting Akufo-Addo were dismissed. It was that blatant,” Mr. Ephson stated.
He continued: “Akufo-Addo being a victim of strong handedness of the establishment I think have avoided that. Peter Amewu is still at post. The female deputy Finance Minister is still at post as we speak is still at post. I mean 200,000 is a lot of numbers for an establishment candidate to be able to control and gag all of them.”