The Ashanti Region has once again reaffirmed its position as the political bedrock of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), according to a new study jointly conducted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), focused on voter sentiments of the 2024 general elections.
The findings show that support for the NPP remains deeply rooted across key demographic segments in the region, including women, Christian voters, retirees, and the Akan majority. These groups continue to provide the party with a solid and unwavering base, reinforcing Ashanti’s longstanding status as the heartland of NPP’s electoral strength.
However, the study also reveals undercurrents of change. While the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains less influential in the region overall, it has made incremental gains among younger voters, Muslims, and citizens with higher levels of formal education. These inroads, though not sufficient to topple the NPP’s entrenched dominance, highlight the gradual emergence of alternative political leanings within a traditionally partisan landscape.
The study also notes that the working poor, though currently a peripheral influence in regional outcomes, may, over time, play a more decisive role if economic grievances intersect with shifting political consciousness.
Below is the detailed outcome of the study in the Ashanti region;
Gender and Voting Behaviour
Gender played a notable role in voter preference in the Ashanti region. Women were significantly
more likely to vote for the NPP (62.9 per cent) compared to men (52.9 per cent). Conversely, men
showed relatively higher support for the NDC (43.9 per cent) than women (33.8 per cent). The data
suggests that the NPP’s messaging or policy focus may have resonated more strongly with female
voters. The NDC appears to have struggled to capture female support at the same rate, despite
broader appeals for change.
Age and Voting Behaviour
Voting behaviour in the Ashanti region showed a clear generational divide. Support for the NPP
increased steadily with age, peaking among voters aged 56–60 (70.1 per cent) and those 61 and
above (69.9 per cent). In contrast, younger voters (18–24) showed more balanced support, with 46.5
per cent voting for the NDC and 47.6 per cent for the NPP.
The trend suggests that older voters favoured continuity and stability offered by the incumbent, while younger cohorts were more open to alternatives, including minor parties. The NDC’s relative strength among youth may reflect a desire for policy change and disillusionment with the political status quo. These results also suggest that close party loyalty is much more pronounced among older Ghanaians than among younger ones.
Religion and Voting Behaviour
Religious identity was a powerful predictor of voting behaviour, with sharp contrasts between faith
groups. Christians, who constitute the majority in the Ashanti region, overwhelmingly supported the
NPP (66.5 per cent) with only 29.6 per cent voting for the NDC. In stark contrast, Muslim voters
showed overwhelming support for the NDC, with 74.6 per cent voting for the party and only 23.9
per cent for the NPP.
Traditional religion adherents aligned more closely with the Christian voting pattern, favouring the NPP (67.2 per cent). These findings suggest that political affiliation among religious groups is shaped not only by faith but also by regional, ethnic, and socio-economic factors intertwined with religious identity.
Ethnicity and Voting Behaviour
Ethnic affiliation emerged as one of the most decisive factors in voting patterns in the Ashanti region.
The Akan ethnic group, dominant in the Ashanti region, strongly supported the NPP (70.2
percent), reflecting long-standing historical and political alignments. In contrast, minority ethnic
groups such as the Ewe (81.3 percent NDC), Grusi (71.9 percent NDC), Mande (80 percent NDC), and
Gurma (69.1 percent NDC) showed overwhelming preference for the NDC. The Mole-Dagbani and Ga-
Dangme groups were more divided but still leaned toward the NDC.
Education Level and Voting Behaviour
Education level showed a clear pattern in voter alignment, with higher levels of education correlating
with stronger support for the NDC in the Ashanti region. Among voters with university degrees or
postgraduate qualifications, a majority supported the NDC—60.2 percent and 76.5 percent, respectively.
In contrast, those with lower levels of education (primary, JHS, or no formal education)
were more likely to vote for the NPP, with support peaking at 61.8 percent among middle school
(JHS) graduates. Notably, those with secondary or vocational education leaned toward the NDC
(55.5 percent), bucking the broader trend. This suggests that political preferences among more
educated voters may be driven by policy evaluation, governance performance, or demand for
reform, while voters with lower educational backgrounds may prioritize continuity or party loyalty.
Profession and Voting Behaviour
The data reveals a clear professional divide in political preferences, with the New Patriotic Party
(NPP) outperforming the National Democratic Congress (NDC) across nearly all occupational
categories in the Ashanti region. The NPP held majority support among farmers/fishermen (62.6
percent), traders (62.5 percent), and civil servants (66 percent), indicating a strong appeal within both the public sector and economically active groups.
The NDC’s best performances came from voters with no profession (45.5 percent) and artisans (44.6 percent), though the NPP still led within these categories. Among students/apprentices, public servants, and private sector workers, the NPP also maintained a lead, with over 53 percent support in each group. Support for third-party candidates remained low across all professions, peaking modestly among public servants, students/apprentices (5.1 percent each), and artisans (3.7 percent). Overall, the NPP was the dominant party across nearly all professional groups, particularly among those employed in structured economic sectors.
The NDC trailed in every category, with no occupational group giving it a majority. The professional electorate leaned conservative, suggesting job security, economic management, and government employment influenced voter choice. Minor parties remained marginal, with little disruption to the NPP–NDC duopoly.
Employment Status and Voting Behaviour
Employment status was a significant factor in shaping voting behaviour in the Ashanti region. Retired
individuals overwhelmingly supported the NPP (72.2 percent). Those self-employed in the informal
sector and formally employed also leaned NPP (60.5 percent and 54.6 percent respectively), though
to a lesser extent.
Meanwhile, support for the NDC was higher among the unemployed (43.7 percent) and the formally self-employed (44.9 percent), indicating frustration with current economic conditions and a desire for change. These patterns suggest that perceptions of economic opportunity, job security, and social safety nets strongly influence voter alignment, with the NPP drawing strength from those satisfied with the status quo and the NDC appealing to those seeking improved access to employment or support.
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