Professor Ransford Gyampo, a distinguished Political Science expert at the University of Ghana (UG), has indicated that the result of the New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) super delegates conference, held on Saturday, August 26, was not surprising.
The super delegates conference, a critical stage in the NPP’s selection process, saw Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secure a resounding victory with 629 votes, constituting 68.15% of the total vote count.
Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, emerged as the second-highest vote-getter, amassing 132 votes, equivalent to 14.30% of the votes. Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen secured the third position with 95 votes, making up 10.29% of the total votes cast.
Professor Gyampo’s perspective on the outcome reflects an expectation within political circles, highlighting that the victory of Vice President Bawumia was not an unforeseen development.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi TV, Prof. Gyampo said that a couple of factors, including loyalty, played a prominent role in the results of the super delegates conference.
“We know that Bawumia was going to emerge at the top, and I was actually expecting him to garner about 80% of the votes. Kennedy Agyapong was also going to get a significant number of votes because quite a number of MPs who voted felt that Ken is someone who would easily reward loyalty. They believe that if they support him now, and there is time for them to also contest their elections, he will dole out funds to support them. And should he also become a kingmaker and he is asked to bring up names for an appointment, he will easily point out to those who gave him their loyalty. Apart from that, he is also a grassroots person, and so this placed him in a certain advantage over the others.
“I was not also surprised by the votes that were garnered by Alan Kyerematen. Even though a lot of people were expecting him to be second, he was between second and third. But what I believe was important is the fact that he was looking forward to being named as part of the top five, and he got that.”
