The governing National Democratic Congress' parliamentary candidates in the Weija Gbawe constituency, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has rubbished prediction by pollster, Ben Ephson that she will lose the parliamentary contest to the New Patriotic Party’s, Tina Mensah in the forthcoming elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ms. Opoku called for calm among her supporters, assuring them that she is unfazed by the veteran journalist’s statistically inept prediction.

Mr. Ephson in a broadcast on GhOne on Sunday and a subsequent publication in his Daily Dispatch on Monday painted a glum picture of Ms. Opoku’s chances of beating Mrs. Tina Mensah in the Weija—Gbawe parliamentary contest, predicting that she will lose.

This, according to Ms. Opoku, is unfortunate.

“I read with utter dismay Pollster Ben Ephson’s assertion that I’ll lose the Weija-Gbawe parliamentary race come December 7, 2016,” she stated.

She continued: “I’m not a pollster, but the basics I know about polls show that it must have scientific data to back it. Where is Mr. Ephson’s statistics/data to buttress his claims? I’m not doubting his credentials, but such comment can easily be made by any ordinary person on the street.

“I’m daring the respected editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper to come out with his statistics in terms of percentages and his sample size, unless he tells us those comments are his personal opinions which everyone is entitled to, anyway.”

She said she remains focused and will not be “swayed by anyone to distract my campaign with a few weeks to the election. The people of Weija-Gbawe are the best judges.”

Below is Obuobia Darko—Opoku’s full statement


BEN EPHSON'S OPINION POLL ON WEIJA-GBAWE

I read with utter dismay Pollster Ben Ephson’s assertion that I’ll lose the Weija-Gbawe parliamentary race come December 7, 2016.

According to Mr. Ephson, his opinion poll done over a stretch of five months indicates I’ll be defeated based on the fact that “elections are not won by huge billboards so Obuobia may have to wait till 2020. She will lose to the NPP’s Tina Mensah.”

I’m not a pollster, but the basics I know about polls show that it must have scientific data to back it. Where is Mr. Ephson’s statistics/data to buttress his claims? I’m not doubting his credentials, but such comment can easily be made by any ordinary person on the street.

I’m daring the respected editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper to come out with his statistics in terms of percentages and his sample size, unless he tells us those comments are his personal opinions which everyone is entitled to, anyway.

For the records, my opponent’s billboards outnumber mine in the Weija-Gbawe constituency. Any doubting Thomas can make a trip to the constituency to do a count. Mr. Ephson has no idea what is happening in my constituency and how I’m running my campaign. Is he saying I have been sleeping all these years after mounting my billboards? Come again, Mr. Ephson! You should know better because spending a little time on the internet or scouring through newspapers including your own Daily Dispatch will give you a better indication that I’ve been conspicuous on the ground from the very day I lost the 2012 elections.

In case you are not aware, besides my interpersonal relationship with the constituents on a daily basis, I have embarked on several projects through the Obuobia Foundation among others to alleviate the plight of my constituents when I’m not even the MP.

Let me remind you of just a few: I have donated an ambulance and a 17,000 ltr water storage tank to the Ga South Municipal Hospital, I have built a three-classroom block for the constituency, bridges to facilitate movement of people and goods, bought pipelines to connect Wiabomah to the national lines for them to access potable water for the first time in over two decades as well as built a mosque among others. These are just a few, not to talk of projects I have lobbied for or facilitated through the local assembly for the constituents, e.g CHPS Compound.

I’m daring Mr. Ephson to come to the constituency to launch a proper opinion poll, and he’ll realise my popularity rating is far higher than even the incumbent MP Rosemond Abrah because I am the only candidate who has touched base with the people.

Mr. Ephson should come again and must produce his statistics since that is the only basis to convince discerning minds. I’m sure if I’d relied on his claims that I was going to win the 2012 parliamentary bid, I would have ended up at the Intensive Care Unit of one of the major hospitals by now. In 2012, he also predicted Benita Sena Okity-Duah, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku constituency, will lose her seat and we all know what happened!

I remain focused and will not be swayed by anyone to distract my campaign with a few weeks to the election. The people of Weija-Gbawe are the best judges.

Signed

Obuobia Darko-Opoku,
NDC Parliamentary Candidate,
Weija-Gbawe.