Former Energy Minister Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko has emerged as the leading candidate in a new survey on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship election, scheduled to take place in Kumasi on October 3, 2026.
The survey, conducted by the Ghana Watch Initiative International (GWII) from September 1 to 12, 2026, reported that Mr Agyarko recorded the highest level of support among the sampled NPP constituency executives.
According to the Candidate Assessment and Political Survey Report – NPP National Chairmanship 2026, dated September 15, Agyarko obtained 51.81% of the responses, followed by former NPP General Secretary John Boadu with 32.32%.
Former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko recorded 12.39%, while former First Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe polled 3.48%.
The researchers said the survey involved 2,098 respondents drawn from the constituency executive structure. They indicated that the sample represented 40% of the constituency baseline of 5,244 and 29.30% of the official statutory delegate population of 7,160.
Agyarko Records Strong Regional Support
The survey reported that Agyarko led in 13 of Ghana’s 16 regions, with his strongest reported performances in Ashanti, Eastern, Western North and other regions.
His reported regional figures included 58.5% in Ashanti, 55.8% in Eastern, 55.9% in Western North, 53.7% in Greater Accra, 54.8% in Upper West and 53.5% in Upper East.
Other reported figures were 54.3% in Ahafo, 52.4% in Bono East, 51.1% in Northern, 50.4% in Volta, 52.7% in Western and 56.5% in North East.
John Boadu, however, was reported to lead in Bono, Central and Savannah regions, recording 44.0%, 43.4% and 45.3%, respectively.
Survey Projects Delegate Votes
Based on the survey’s national percentage, the researchers projected that Agyarko could receive approximately 3,710 votes if the preference pattern among the sampled respondents were replicated across the full 7,160-member statutory delegate college.
Boadu was projected at about 2,314 votes, while Afoko and Crabbe were estimated at approximately 887 and 249 votes, respectively.
The researchers stressed that these projections are based on an assumption that statutory delegates outside the sampled constituency executive structure would have broadly similar preferences.
Agyarko’s Leadership and Campaign Profile
The report attributed Agyarko’s reported support partly to his leadership experience, policy background, fundraising capacity and appeal across different factions within the NPP.
He reportedly received a leadership integrity rating of 4.2 out of five in the survey.
However, the researchers also identified a potential challenge for his campaign, pointing to what they described as a comparatively limited grassroots organisational structure when compared with Boadu’s established party network.
Boadu’s 32.32% showing placed him second in the survey. The report highlighted his organisational experience, mobilisation network and relationships within the NPP as notable factors.
Afoko’s Support Could Influence NPP Chairmanship Race
Paul Afoko’s 12.39% support was also highlighted in the survey, with researchers suggesting that his supporters could become significant if the contest proceeds to a second ballot.
The report stated that among Afoko supporters who expressed a second preference, 48% selected Agyarko while 31% chose Boadu.
Survey Limitations
The GWII researchers acknowledged that the survey has limitations because the 2,098 respondents were constituency executives, while the official statutory delegate population stands at 7,160.
They cautioned that the projections depend on the assumption that the wider delegate population has similar preferences to those captured in the survey.
The report also noted that endorsements, campaign activities, alliances and other political developments could influence delegate preferences before the October 3 NPP National Chairmanship election.
The findings therefore represent the preferences captured during the survey period and should not be treated as the final outcome of the NPP National Chairmanship contest.
Source: newsthemegh.com