A research study conducted to investigate the performance of the two main political parties, New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, in the District Assembly Elections which were held across the country on the Tuesday, 19th December, 2023 and Thursday, 21st December, 2023, concludes with the results from the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the Ashanti Region, indicating the performances of the two parties, respectively.
Although it is not partisan, the aspirants are usually one way or the other supported by the various political parties that they are affiliated to. Some aspirants even hold political positions at the electoral area, branch, polling station and ward levels, depending on the particular party he or she belongs to. Our research team therefore did not find it difficult identifying the political leanings of these aspirants, particularly when some of them boldly design their posters with the colors of the party they belong to. It must be established that, a political affiliation of a candidate undoubtedly impacted their likelihood of winning in the contest or otherwise. It is also common knowledge that these political parties, through both covert and overt actions, influence the chances of a candidate. The readiness of the two political parties to win the General Elections is therefore tested in these local elections. Same can be argued in the case of their respective popularity and approval ratings among the voting populace.
Nine Hundred and Twenty One (921) candidates who identify with the NPP won their respective electoral areas across the region. This represents 85% of the total One Thousand and Eighty Five (1085) candidates. The opposition NDC through the pro-NDC candidates managed to secure a paltry 157, representing 14%, with the non-affiliated or independent candidates recording 9, representing 1% of the total candidates who won.
Attached is the data depicting how both parties performed in all the forty three (43) metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the Ashanti Region.