A recent survey has revealed that the ethnicity and religion of presidential candidates in Ghana’s 2024 general elections had little influence on voter decisions.
According to the findings, over 95% of respondents stated that the tribal background of a candidate did not affect their choice at the polls.
However, around 5% of respondents believed that the Mamprusi-Kusasi conflict negatively impacted the party’s performance in certain rural constituencies where Kusasi voters reside. These voters reportedly cast their ballots against Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia due to ethnic affiliations.
Regarding religious influence, 98% of respondents asserted that having a Muslim presidential candidate had no significant effect on the election results.
The study found that while some voters abstained from voting for Dr. Bawumia, their reasons were not based on his religious background or his status as a Northerner.
Similarly, Christian voters who chose not to support him did so for reasons other than religion.
Interestingly, the survey highlighted that many Northern respondents considered seniority as an important cultural factor in leadership.
As a result, some voters preferred former President John Mahama over Dr. Bawumia, believing Mahama’s age gave him an advantage.
