Assin North by-election: 94% of voters who thought government was persecuting Gyakye Quayson voted against NPP – Report

A report from research firm, Global InfoAnalytics has revealed that voters who believed the Akufo-Addo’s government was persecuting NDC MP James Gyakye Quayson overwhelmingly voted against the NPP in last month’s Assin North by-election.

According to the report, 94% of voters who held this view voted for NDC's Quayson, while only 6% voted for NPP candidate Charles Opoku.

“The poll shows that voters who thought the government was persecuting Gyakye Quayson, 94% voted for Gyakye Quayson while 6% voted for Charles Opoku,” the report stated in part.

The report, shared via a tweet on Monday, July 10, provides insight into the factors that contributed to Mr Quayson’s victory over Mr Opoku in the June 27 by-election.

It found that while the NPP had gained enthusiasm among likely voters in the lead-up to the election, the NDC gained even more enthusiasm on election day.

The report also noted that young voters, who polls had shown supported NPP's Opoku, largely did not turn out to vote. Among those who did vote, they overwhelmingly chose Mr Quayson.

The report further revealed that the promise of overnight development projects swayed some voters toward the government, but turned away even more.

While 37% of voters said these promises made them vote for the government, 46% said it made them vote against the government.

It further argued that vote buying and inducements also backfired for the NPP in the by-election.

Although 92% of voters admitted to receiving cash, goods or other inducements from one of the parties, the NDC benefited more, winning over voters who received from both parties as well as some who received only from the NPP.

The report concluded that “vote buying would have a negative return on investment in swing constituencies. Voters took the inducement from both parties but the NDC benefited from the backlash and they won votes from people who took more from the NPP.”

The findings suggest the NPP’s approach in this by-election may have seriously backfired, provoking a reaction against the party that contributed to its loss of the seat.

Meanwhile, the said persecution from which the report said voters kicked against the ruling party comes from the re-elected MP’s deposition from Parliament over dual citizenship and his subsequent criminal trial, which some say it’s unfair.