Sweeping all seats in Upper West: Pollsters declare Sissala West for the NDC

Oinion polls are studies in which people are asked for their opinions about candidates in an election. Opinions polls help people to make a sound judgement of who is likely to emerge victorious in an election. As we go into the 2024 elections, these polls are needed to inform all participants to strategize to ensure that success come.

Notable polling organizations including Global InfoAnalytics, Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Fitch Solutions have all declared an election victory for President John Mahama and the NDC in the coming elections. A recent study by the Global InfoAnalytics on constituency projections reports 157 seats for the NDC, 95 for the NPP and 23 are uncertain. This is good news for the NDC and they must work hard to ensure reality.

Sissala West Constituency has been one of the constituencies affected by these opinion polls. All polls that considered Sissala West for a study certified the seat for the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mohammed Adams Sukparu and President John Mahama.

First, a survey by the Global InfoAnalytics in 2022 categorically declared the Sissala West Member of Parliament as safe. According to the report, 83 percent of Sissala Westerners agreed that the MP is very likely/likely to retain his seat with zero percent saying he is very unlikely/unlikely. Over 90 percent approve his performance as excellent or very good. This was a positive development for the NDC and the young first timer.

The April 2024 Global InfoAnalytics polling report also points out that 75.56 percent of respondents have sympathies for the NDC as against a paltry 24.44 percent for the NPP. This clearly indicates how heavy the NDC is in the Sissala West Constituency and that the MP and President Mahama is on course to win.

Another opinion poll that is worthy of notice is the poll conducted by Wasor Ibrahim of Radford FM on his Facebook page. Prior to the polls, he declared on NPP WhatsApp platforms to mobilize their members to beseech his page and participate in the poll so that the NPP parliamentary candidate, Hon Salifu Nalwie Baluwie emerges victorious in the poll. Patriotic fellows in the NPP who feel unhappy about the biasness of the pollster leaked this message to NDC.

Despite this unfair treatment to the Sissala West MP, he emerged highest with 58 percent while his contender garnered only 40 percent and 2 percent showing no interest. The outcome was also refreshing because the interest of the constituency was so high in this poll as some of our revered chiefs and opinion leaders participated. This proves that the poll is representative of the wishes and aspirations of all Sissala Westerners.

The popularity of the 58 percent winning MP was not easy in coming. He has, in less than 4 years, delivered more than the NPP’s over seven years’ performance in the Sissala West District. He has constructed CHPS compounds, classroom blocks and done several cement donations to communities to support self-initiated projects. He has also opened entrepreneurial gates for many young people through skills training. The Mohammed Adams Sukparu Youth Entrepreneurial Training (MASYET) programme has put many young girls and boys into apprenticeship.

Not all, the MP has drilled over 30 boreholes and still counting with some mechanized. He singled handedly paid all fees of the first batch of Sisaali Education students at the University of Winneba without asking whether one is a constituent or not. He even went the extra mile to dredge dams. The works of the MP cannot be exhausted in this write-up.

The distance to achieving agenda eleven over eleven in the Upper West Region is between now and December 7, 2024. This is true because, unlike the eight seats occupied by the NDC, the opinion polls are not favouring the three seats occupied by the NPP in Upper West.

In an opinion poll by Wasor Ibrahim of Radford FM, the NDC candidate, Mohammed Issah Bataglia secured 66 percent while his contender, Hon Amidu Chinnia secured a paltry 29 percent. This is expected because of the lot of corruption scandals hanging on the neck of the Sissala East MP. T

The MP has become a source of embarrassment to the Sissala East Constituency and the constituents cannot keep faith to a MP who will not maintain fidelity to his oath of office.

Also, in the Lambussie Constituency, a Global InfoAnalytics report in January 2023, declares that 84 percent of Lambussierians believe their MP, Hon. Bright B. Y. Baligi performed poorly with 74 percent saying they are unlikely vote for him. The commentary of Global InfoAnalytics reads, "With 84% of voters rating his performance as poor, and 74% unlikely to vote for him, the MP is in trouble. He is unlikely to retain his seat even if he wins the primaries as voters for both NPP and NDC unite to vote him out." The personality of Prof Titus Beyuo will be a plus for the Lambussie Constituency and it is not surprising that the youth are counting the days. The Nandom Constituency is also prone to same challenges the NPP face in both Sissala East and Lambussie.

Though opinion polls are with limitations, they bring a certain hope to those emerging highest to do more. The results of these polls point to the fact that “agenda eleven over eleven” in Upper West is attainable and no stone should be left unturned until this historic victory is realized for our servant parliamentary candidates. All Sissala Westerners must not relax in their pursuit to ensuring that their hardworking, servant, accessible and 58 percent winning MP is retained to keep doing more for the people of Sissala West.