NDC flagbearership: Mosquito, Eric Opoku lead early survey

The race for the presidential flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could be shaping up as a contest between two contenders with roots in the former Brong Ahafo Region, National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as General Mosquito and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, an early survey of party delegates has suggested.

The duo emerged ahead of other potential contenders in both delegate perceptions of who could best unite the party and who would be most suitable to lead it.

General Asiedu Nketia garnered 24.5 per cent on the question of who could best unite the NDC, followed by Mr Eric Opoku with 20.4 per cent.

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson obtained 12.5 per cent, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu 9.4 per cent, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah 6.1 per cent, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang 5.2 per cent and Prof Joshua Alabi 3.6 per cent.

Another 16.3 per cent of respondents either declined to disclose their preference or were uncertain.

The findings were contained in a Political Environment Assessment Survey, conducted by Prof Smart Sarpong and Feedblack Africa, from September 10 to 20, 2026.

The survey covered 11 regions, 136 constituencies and 350 communities and involved 9,330 respondents, including 3,750 NDC delegates and 5,580 other stakeholders.

Presenting the report at a news conference in Accra yesterday, Prof Sarpong cautioned that the figures were not a prediction of the eventual primary outcome, as the contest had not formally begun.

Why the two lead

Prof Sarpong said Asiedu Nketia’s strength was particularly evident in areas such as Bono and Savannah regions, where he was said to stand out among the other contenders.

Mr Opoku, meanwhile, was reported to be doing well in the Bono and Greater Accra regions, where he was also described as standing out among the other candidates.

Prof Sarpong further said a previous “mindset analysis” had identified regional considerations that could become important if the contest became closely fought.

According to him, General Asiedu Nketia, Mr Opoku and Mr Debrah were associated with regions that had not benefited from NDC presidential leadership, in the same way as some other parts of the country.

He said such considerations might become relevant at the “point of equilibrium”, when delegates had heard the competing messages and were faced with a close choice.

Mosquito also led on suitability of candidate, with 26.7 per cent, narrowly ahead of Mr Opoku’s 26.4 per cent.

Dr Ato Forson followed with 16.1 per cent, while Mr Iddrisu recorded 10.4 per cent.

Prof Sarpong attributed some of Mr Iddrisu’s weaker showing to uncertainty among delegates about whether he would eventually contest.

He said the former Majority Leader’s strength remained particularly pronounced in the northern and North East areas.

The survey also identified uncertainty surrounding some other potential candidates. Prof Sarpong said delegates were unsure whether Dr Ato Forson, the Vice President and some others would formally enter the race, noting that such uncertainty could affect their current numbers.

Jobs top constituency concerns

Beyond the flagbearership contest, the survey identified unemployment and lack of job opportunities as the most urgent problem facing constituencies, accounting for 40.4 per cent.

Poor road infrastructure followed, with other concerns including healthcare, sanitation and waste management, potable water, security and electricity extension.

Prof Sarpong said the road concerns largely involved community and inter-community roads rather than major national highways.

On economic conditions, 51.2 per cent of respondents said their economic situation had remained broadly unchanged over the previous 12 months.

Another 24.6 per cent said their situation had improved, while 16 per cent said it had worsened.

The findings therefore showed a mixed economic sentiment, with more respondents reporting improvement than deterioration, but more than half saying they had yet to experience significant change.

Prof Sarpong said the figures represented a September snapshot and could change as potential aspirants formally declare their intentions, pick nomination forms and begin campaigning.

**For more ** news**, join The Chronicle ** Newspaper** channel on WhatsApp: **https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z

The post NDC flagbearership: Mosquito, Eric Opoku lead early survey appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.