Stop rubbishing our surveys, University of Ghana to politicians
The Political Science Department of the University of Ghana has defended its latest survey in the run-up to the 7 December general elections
- “We are doing our job and our academic integrity is at stake, and we are also using our academic freedom, which cannot be clamped down upon.”
Dr. Maame Gyekye-Jandoh, Head of Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, has advised political parties to strategise in order to woo 3.7% of undecided voters, instead of rubbishing the Department’s latest survey.
Speaking to Asaase News following criticism about their recent survey in the lead-up to the 7 December election, Dr. Gyekye-Jandoh explained that the integrity of the University cannot be compromised as being speculated.
“I call on people to take a look at the survey, analyse the methodology and look at the findings we have just reported. This is just something that I think both political parties should just take a look at in good faith and work towards the election because 3.7% of those surveyed are still undecided and elections can go either way,” she noted.
Dr Gyekye-Jandoh added: “So I think that it shouldn’t be about the media focusing on the two major parties. So, it is like one party is supposedly doing better than the other parties in the survey and that is what the media focused on.
“We are doing our job and our academic integrity is at stake, and we are also using our academic freedom, which cannot be clamped down upon.”
The Communication Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, on Thursday described the survey by the University of Ghana as a fabricated report.
“Some few people were influenced by NPP politicians. They sat in the confines of their offices and generated a report which is what has been released. That is the information we have,” Gyamfi claimed.
“Assuming without admitting that this poll was authentic and well done, it’s just a poll. Even if what they have done is a good research job, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will come to pass because polls are not sacrosanct,” he said.
However, Dr. Gyekye-Jandoh said the survey was professionally conducted without any biases.
“So, we have done our work based on academic integrity and I think it should be taken in good faith, it is not just some wishful thinking, it is a scientific survey, so if people want to question, they can take a look at the methodology,” she added.
Findings of research
According to the research findings, 51.7% of Ghanaians say they will vote for the governing New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.
It also stated that 40.4% of Ghanaians say they will vote for John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) whilst 1.4% say they will vote for Ghana Union Movement (GUM).
Out of over 11, 000 respondents across the country, 52% say they will retain their MPs, according to the study.
The researchers say 80% of the respondents said they will vote based on the campaign message. The UG survey was carried out between 12 November and 22 November this year and was presented by Kaakyire Duku Frempong, a lead researcher on the project.
Fred Dzakpata
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