[L-R] John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo in the run up to the 2016 general elections[/caption]Former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, suspects government is behind a political survey report released by the University of Ghana, to divert attention from the Menzgold saga. He said thousands of Ghanaians are suffering as a result of the collapse of the gold dealership company and instead of the nation to think of how to help victims, the University, through the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, are trying to divert attention from the issue. The survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the university sampled the opinions of about 5000 Ghanaians nationwide, asking the respondents two questions. The results of the research suggested that if elections were conducted today President Akufo-Addo would have led the poll followed by former president John Mahama with Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom trailing them without any of the candidates getting the required 50 plus 1 percent to win. This means the winner would be determined by a run-off . “For Nana Akufo-Addo, 49.3% said they would vote for him, 33.3% said they would vote for Mahama and 7.35 for Paa Kwesi Nduom,” Dr Gyekye-Jandoh, who is the Head of the Political Science Department of the University said in Accra on Wednesday while presenting the report. President Akufo-Addo defeated John Mahama, then incumbent President, to become the president of Ghana in the 2016 general elections. President Akufo-Addo polled 53.9% of the total valid votes, while John Mahama managed 44.4%, the worse so far for an incumbent President. Reacting to the survey on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Kwasi Asempa on Thursday, Mr. Allotey Jacobs said “never in their [UG] history have they projected NDC and it is a way to sway the discussion on Menzgold”. “When you look at what is going on in the country, it is all about Menzgold”, he explained. He said the report has to “motivate the NDC in view of the current economic situation in the country, because, even the high class in society were even investing in Menzgold so you don’t have to come out with such reports. We have to help those involved”. Happy about the report The NDC man however expressed happiness about the results of the report, saying, it should be a wake-up call for the opposition party to work hard in areas they fell short in order to capitalize on that to win power in the 2020 elections. “I am happy with the polls and I will urge my members that if it has given us that percentage, let us look at the political landscape and capitalize on it”. He also wanted to know the class of people interviewed for the survey. By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana]]>
