A fresh survey by a team of academic researchers has ranked former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, ahead of his contenders in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) upcoming presidential primaries.

The poll, led by Dr. Evans Duah, suggests that Mr. Agyapong could secure between 41% and 52% of delegate support, depending on turnout and the behavior of undecided voters.

Conducted between August 15 and 31, 2025, the study engaged 20,356 delegates—representing about 10% of the party’s 203,562 registered delegates. Using proportional projections, researchers estimate that Mr. Agyapong could capture as many as 104,807 votes nationwide in a best-case scenario. This would give him a significant lead over Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who polled between 31% and 39%.

The regional analysis showed Mr. Agyapong performing strongly in the Central, Greater Accra, Volta, and Ashanti regions, while Dr. Bawumia maintained dominance in the Northern, North East, and Upper West regions. Dr. Bryan Acheampong registered 9–11% nationally, maintaining a base in the Eastern Region, with Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong trailing at marginal levels.

“Since the South accounts for more than 40% of the delegates, Kennedy Agyapong enjoys a structural advantage,” Dr. Duah explained.

However, the researchers stressed that the findings were “indicative, not predictive.” Dr. Duah further noted the limitations of the study, citing a 25% non-response rate and the potential for shifts in delegate sentiment as the primaries draw closer.

“Our analysis shows Kennedy Agyapong leading in all scenarios, but outcomes remain subject to campaign dynamics and last-minute alignments,” he cautioned.

The Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) has expressed disappointment over recent remarks made by President John Dramani Mahama concerning Ghana’s creative sector.

At the recent media briefing on the State of the Nation, His Excellency President Mahama admitted what we, as creatives, have always known: the creative sector is one of the fastest-growing employers of talent in Ghana. He further promised that allocations will be made to the sector in the next national budget.

The Foundation of Concerned Art Professionals (FOCAP) welcomes this recognition, but we must ask the critical question on behalf of every musician, filmmaker, fashion designer, performer and cultural entrepreneur:

If the creative sector is truly this vital, why was it not prioritised and resourced in his very first year in office?

Ghana is not only the land of gold, cocoa and oil. We are the Black Star of Africa, a nation whose creativity shines brighter than any resource underground. Our music is heard across continents, our fashion graces global runways, our film and theatre shape narratives, and our festivals attract thousands of visitors each year. The creative sector not only tells our story it creates jobs, fuels tourism and places Ghana firmly on the global stage.

Yet, despite this power, our sector continues to suffer from underfunding and neglect in national planning and development.

Around the world, the Orange Economy — the global term for creative and cultural industries has proven its value. In Latin America alone, it contributes billions of dollars annually to GDP, creates millions of jobs and has become a strategic pillar for development. Why should Ghana, with its wealth of talent and cultural capital, lag?

FOCAP is clear: Acknowledgement without action is not progress. We cannot celebrate rhetoric while policies and budgets remain slow to respond. For the creative sector to reach its potential, there must be:

* Sustained budget allocation — not one-off promises.

* Creative infrastructure investment — theatres, studios, performance spaces.

* Policy reforms that protect intellectual property and support creative entrepreneurs.

* Public-private partnerships that scale Ghana’s cultural exports.

The youth are ready. The talent is abundant. The world is already watching Ghana. What is missing is the bold political will to invest and transform our creative energy into economic power.

FOCAP therefore calls on all stakeholders — government, private sector, development partners, and the Ghanaian public — to treat the creative economy as a frontline sector, not an afterthought.

If Ghana is to truly live up to its name as the Black Star, then we must invest in the sector that makes us shine.

This is not the time for promises — this is the time for action, urgency and accountability.

FOCAP invites all creatives, industry stakeholders, and citizens to join us in demanding urgent investment in the creative sector. Together, let’s amplify the call until words become policy and policy becomes action.

Hashtags:

#FOCAPAdvocacy

#OrangeEconomy

#InvestInCreatives

#BlackStarPower

Signed,

Kojo Preko Dankwa

President FOCAP

0550077040

Mel Kwesi Davis

Vice President FOCAP

0246550298

Enoch Agyepong

Vice President, Research.

0244712136.

Ace broadcaster and media personality, Kojo Preko Dankwa, has raised a critical question to President John Dramani Mahama regarding the ongoing debate about the galamsey menace and the call for a possible state of emergency.

The interaction took place during President Mahama’s recent engagement with the press, where he addressed key national issues, including illegal mining, widely known as galamsey. The broadcaster queried the former president on whether declaring a state of emergency would be a decisive step in addressing the escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges caused by illegal mining activities.

Mr. Mahama, in his response, acknowledged the gravity of the galamsey situation, describing it as a national crisis that demands urgent, collective, and non-partisan solutions. He emphasised the need for strong political will, community involvement, and sustainable alternatives for those who depend on small-scale mining for their livelihood.

He further stressed that his administration was not yet prepared to take such a drastic step. He explained that existing laws already give security agencies and regulators enough authority to arrest offenders, seize equipment, and enforce forest protection measures without resorting to extraordinary powers.

Galamsey has remained one of Ghana’s most pressing challenges, threatening water bodies, degrading lands, and sparking concerns about long-term environmental sustainability. The former president reiterated his commitment to working with all stakeholders to protect Ghana’s natural resources while ensuring livelihoods are safeguarded.

The debate follows a proposed 280% increase in water tariffs by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), which partly attributes the hike to the rising cost of treating water polluted by illegal mining activities.

Kojo Preko Dankwa’s intervention reflects the growing public demand for accountability and decisive action in the fight against galamsey, a battle that continues to test Ghana’s leadership.