Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has described his organisation’s accurate prediction of the Akwatia by-election as one of his most gratifying professional experiences.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, September 3, Dankwah reflected on the intense pressure leading up to the poll, knowing that critics were ready to pounce if the forecast proved incorrect.
“There was so much at stake. I knew that if we got it wrong, I would have been taken to the slaughterhouse,” he said, describing the anxiety he felt in the days before the vote.
Prior to the September 2, 2025, by-election, Global InfoAnalytics projected a win for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Baidoo Bediako, estimating he would claim 53% of the vote.
The Electoral Commission later confirmed Bediako’s victory, with the NDC candidate securing 18,199 votes. His main challenger, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 15,235 votes. Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) received 82 votes, with a total of 33,819 valid votes cast and 303 ballots rejected.
Dankwah took the opportunity to advise political parties to adapt to the evolving electoral environment, warning against the continued use of propaganda and personal attacks as campaign tools.
“Elections today are about polling, fairness, research, and scientific data. The old tactics—propaganda, emotions, and insults—no longer work,” he stated.
He pointed out a significant shift in Ghana’s voter demographics, highlighting that more than 70% of the electorate is now under the age of 35.
“These young voters are informed, connected, and quick to fact-check. If they catch you spreading misinformation, your credibility is gone,” Dankwah cautioned.
He emphasized that political parties need to take this shift seriously if they hope to succeed in upcoming elections.
