General News of Tuesday, 23 July 2024

Source: peacefmonline.com

Fitch Solutions allegedly reproduced Global Info Analytics' election polls predicting NDC victory

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and John Mahama Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and John Mahama

A few days after it was widely publicized that ratings agency Fitch Solutions had conducted research and predicted victory for the NDC in the upcoming December elections, emerging details have shown that Fitch did not conduct independent research.

Many Ghanaian news portals highlighted the research by Fitch, but it has turned out that the firm reproduced a local research work by Global Info Analytics, led by controversial pollster Musa Dankwa, which was done earlier this year during the height of Ghana’s inflation.

Fitch surprisingly did not provide its own research findings for its election results.

In a report titled "Ghana's Political Risk to Moderate in 2024 on More Stable Macroeconomic Conditions," Fitch restated Global Info Analytics' reasons for the rising cost of living for its own projections for the NDC.

"We anticipate that the opposition National Democratic Congress will win the upcoming December 2024 General elections in Ghana, following two terms of New Patriotic Party rule."

"The rising perceptions of economic mismanagement in Ghana due to persistently high inflation and weakened living standards will erode support for the incumbent NPP in the elections. We believe that social stability risks will be limited in the run-up to the vote, given Ghana's entrenched democracy and history of peaceful transfers of power."

"In a survey by Global Info Analytics, 65% of respondents cited the economy as their foremost concern, and it is our view that the NDC is strategically positioned to secure victory in the upcoming general elections," Fitch said, referencing Musa Dankwa's works.

Following the revelation, many people have criticized Fitch Solutions for their laziness in conducting its own research.

The critics also accuse the foreign research firm of being biased towards the NDC.

Research by Global Info Analytics has often been a mixed prediction that lacks authenticity.

Their flaw became apparent during the governing New Patriotic Party primaries, where they predicted a win for Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong over the eventual winner, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Musa Dankwa's group has further faced stern criticisms for outrageous predictions for the NDC.