Controversial pollster, Ben Ephson says the ruling New Patriotic Party will win the upcoming Assin North by-election.
He backed Charles Opoku, the New Patriotic Party’s candidate to win over James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress in an interview with Joy News.
He explained that Mr Quayson won the 2020 elections largely because his place of origin is Assin Bereku.
“Both parties want this seat so badly. For Quayson the sympathy votes that he would have gotten have dropped a bit because some NDC people were trying to influence the swing voters that when there is a by-election, roads get done and monies come from both parties so let's vote for Quayson so that if he loses, then we will have another chance for another by-election but the court asking to go back to the campaign has dimmed his chances.
“For the NPP candidate, the little investigations I’ve done show that he has been preparing himself for politics. For the past few years, he has had an NGO which has been doing a number of activities. That gives him an advantage. If you were to gamble with your last 100 cedis, I will advise you to put your money on the NPP candidate even though it's too close to call," he said.
Adding that, “Quayson came from Assin Bereku and the lady was from another area. The lady had issues with some of the NPP executives in Assin Bereku which is why this time she was asked to stay aside. With both candidates coming Assin Bereku and the lady who is popular in another town campaigning for the NPP… The NPP candidate has also been doing a lot of philanthropic works in Assin North.”
The by-election was necessitated by a Supreme Court decision to declare the 2020 elections in the constituency null and void.
The court held that at the time of filing to contest, James Gyakye Quayson had not successfully renounced his Canadian citizenship and thus was a dual citizen of Ghana and Canada.
