Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, could give John Boadu an important advantage in the Ashanti Region, according to political analyst and Founder and CEO of DWA Risk Consulting Ltd and Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah.

Dankwah made the observation in an interview monitored by MyRoyalFM on TV3, where he discussed the National Chairman race and the possible impact of Wontumi’s support on Boadu’s campaign.

He said Wontumi’s influence in the Ashanti Region is stronger than his national standing, making the endorsement particularly important in the region.

“Look, let me just break this numbers down. When it comes to favourability of the candidates in the various for the chairmanship across the country, Chairman Wontumi is liked by 33% of the people. He has plus 30% rating but in the Ashanti Region this number is 47%.”

Dankwah said the difference between Wontumi’s national and regional ratings suggests that his endorsement could have a stronger effect among delegates and party supporters in Ashanti.

“Now it means that if he endorses a candidate, that candidate is likely to do better in Ashanti Region than elsewhere.”

Ashanti Region race remains close

According to Dankwah, the polling figures he discussed show a close contest among the candidates in the Ashanti Region.

He said Ajaku was leading with 19 percent, while Dongu followed with 16 percent.

“Now if you look at the polling data in the Ashanti Region, Ajaku was leading 19%. Dongu 16%. So the race there is very, very tight.”

With the gap between the candidates relatively small, Dankwah believes every additional vote could become important.

“So every little vote for a region counts and that is where I think is seeking the help of the difference.”

His analysis suggests that Boadu’s campaign could benefit from having a well-known figure such as Wontumi openly backing him in a region where the race is still competitive.

Wontumi’s influence is stronger in Ashanti

Dankwah further explained why he believes Wontumi’s endorsement could matter more in Ashanti than in other parts of the country.

He said Wontumi has a plus-47 percent favourability rating in the Ashanti Region, compared with a much lower figure nationally.

“You know he’s not going to overwhelmingly win the Ashanti Region even if he was contesting but he has a very formidable base and that base is still strong.”

The comment does not mean Dankwah expects Wontumi’s endorsement to automatically deliver the entire region to Boadu.

Rather, he believes Wontumi has a strong enough support base to influence a close contest, especially when candidates are separated by only a few percentage points.

Dankwah returned to the polling figures to explain the difference in Wontumi’s standing.

“Now if you look at the favourability ratings of the candidates in the Ashanti Region, Wontumi has plus 47% in Ashanti Region whereas across the country it is plus 33%.”

He said the higher regional figure means Wontumi’s voice could carry more weight among voters and delegates in Ashanti.

“So he’s outperforming his national average, which means that his voice or his voice is much louder in the region than anywhere else.”

Boadu could benefit from the endorsement

For John Boadu, the key question is whether Wontumi’s support can translate into votes.

Dankwah believes the endorsement gives Boadu a useful push as he tries to improve his position in the region.

“So if John Boadu is looking for a push to do better in the Ashanti Region, I think this endorsement comes a long way.”

The comment comes against the background of a competitive NPP chairmanship race in which candidates are looking for support across the country.

Ashanti is especially important because of its large NPP support base and the number of delegates connected to the region.

A candidate who performs strongly there can gain an important advantage, particularly if the overall national contest is closely fought.

Undecided delegates could become important

Dankwah also discussed figures relating to delegates who view Wontumi favourably.

He said the polling data showed different levels of support for the candidates within that group, while a significant number remained undecided.

According to the figures he cited, 25 percent of the delegates who view Wontumi favourably preferred one candidate, while another had 5 percent support.

He also said Sam Crab recorded zero percent among that particular group, while 44 percent were undecided.

The high number of undecided delegates could be important because it leaves room for candidates to persuade voters before the election.

For Boadu, Wontumi’s endorsement could provide an opportunity to appeal to some of those undecided delegates, particularly those who respect the Ashanti Regional Chairman.

However, there is no guarantee that delegates who have a favourable view of Wontumi will automatically vote for his preferred candidate.

Endorsement does not guarantee victory

While Dankwah sees the endorsement as valuable, he also made it clear that Wontumi’s support does not mean Boadu will automatically dominate the Ashanti Region.

The endorsement could strengthen Boadu’s campaign, but delegates will ultimately make their own decisions.

The polling figures discussed by Dankwah also represent a particular point in the campaign and should not be treated as a final prediction of the election outcome.

Candidates can gain or lose support as the contest progresses, particularly as they engage directly with delegates.

The importance of Wontumi’s endorsement therefore lies more in the potential influence it could have than in any guarantee of votes.

Why the endorsement matters now

Political endorsements can be particularly important in close internal elections because they can help candidates reach voters who may still be undecided.

In this case, Dankwah’s analysis suggests that Wontumi’s strongest area of influence is the Ashanti Region.

His support for Boadu could therefore help the former NPP General Secretary strengthen his campaign in an area where the polling figures indicate that the race is competitive.

At the same time, Boadu will still have to campaign across the country and convince delegates on his own record, leadership plans and vision for the NPP.

The endorsement can open doors, but the final decision remains with the delegates.