A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Ghana, led by Dr. Chris Atadika, has found that an overwhelming majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates expect former Subin Member of Parliament, Eugene Boakye Antwi, to win the party's National General Secretary election. The research, which surveyed 889 respondents, found that 74.2 per cent of delegates expect Mr. Boakye Antwi to win the contest. The study also found that 76.6 per cent of respondents selected Mr. Boakye Antwi as their preferred candidate for the General Secretary position.
The research, which was conducted to understand the expectations and perceptions of NPP delegates, also found that Mr. Boakye Antwi was ahead on other key indicators, including perceived ability to help the NPP win the 2028 general election. When asked which candidate could help the party win the 2028 general election, 60.1 per cent of respondents selected Mr. Boakye Antwi, while 39.2 per cent chose incumbent General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua. The study also found that Mr. Boakye Antwi had higher name recognition among respondents, with 82.7 per cent mentioning his name when asked to identify candidates contesting the General Secretary position.
The researchers stressed that the findings represented the expectations and perceptions of the respondents surveyed and should not be interpreted as an independent prediction of the outcome of the election. Dr. Atadika said the study was undertaken to go beyond the figures produced by conventional quantitative polls and understand the reasons behind delegates' choices and perceptions. The research team sought to examine not only who delegates preferred but also the factors influencing those preferences.
The study also examined the characteristics delegates considered important for the person who should occupy the General Secretary position. Good communication skills, boldness, the ability to help the party secure victory in 2028, and the ability to unify the party emerged among the key qualities identified. Other characteristics included understanding the plight of the people, particularly delegates and the wider citizenry, being interested in the role beyond personal benefits, restoring discipline and unity within the party, being grassroots-oriented, and having the ability to mobilise.
The research further found that delegates were looking for a General Secretary who would approach the position with the interest of the party, beyond personal considerations. Dr. Atadika said 97.64 per cent of respondents believed the NPP could win the 2028 general election. The researchers also asked whether the type of national leadership elected by the party would influence the party's ability to support its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the 2028 election. More than 97 per cent of delegates believed that the leadership selected at the national level would have an influence on the party's ability to support Dr. Bawumia's bid.
The study also identified restoring discipline as the most frequently identified characteristic that delegates wanted in the next crop of NPP national executives, with 53.3 per cent of respondents selecting it. Good communication skills, boldness in action, ability to defend the party, restoring the party's glory, being a unifier, and having strong grassroots connections were also identified as key characteristics. Dr. Atadika said these findings could indicate that delegates wanted a change in the way the party was being led.
The study involved 889 NPP stakeholders and combined online and physical data collection. Dr. Atadika explained that the researchers selected specific catchment areas where representatives engaged delegates directly. The sample of 889 was selected against the estimated NPP delegate base and the researchers' calculations using the Cochran Formula, a 95 per cent confidence level, and a five per cent margin of error. The research was conducted from September 2026, and the NPP National General Secretary election is scheduled for October 3, 2026.
Key points
- Eugene Boakye Antwi is expected to win the NPP General Secretary election by 74.2 per cent of delegates surveyed.
- The study identified restoring discipline as the most frequently identified characteristic that delegates wanted in the next crop of NPP national executives.
- The researchers stressed that the findings represented the expectations and perceptions of the respondents surveyed and should not be interpreted as an independent prediction of the outcome of the election.
