According to GhanaWeb, Frederick Opare-Ansah, Campaign Manager for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has rejected claims that the former presidential candidate’s religious background contributed to his defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking during an appearance on the Wontumi Morning Show with Oheneba Nana Asiedu, Opare-Ansah firmly stated that the results of the election were shaped by a variety of factors, none of which pointed to religion as a determining influence.
“The election outcome was influenced by a complex array of issues, but faith was not a decisive element,” he said.
He revealed that Dr. Bawumia had commissioned an independent study to explore whether religious identity influenced voter behavior, especially in light of post-election commentary suggesting faith-based voting patterns.
According to Opare-Ansah, the research found no substantial evidence to support such claims.
He also cited several constituency-level outcomes to support his position. In Sunyani West, for example, a predominantly Christian constituency, voters elected a Muslim candidate from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Likewise, in Assin Central, an NDC Muslim candidate secured the parliamentary seat.
In Assin South, where Reverend Ntim Fordjour, a Christian minister, is the sitting MP, Dr. Bawumia actually received more votes in the presidential race than Fordjour did in the parliamentary contest.
These instances, Opare-Ansah argued, reflect a more issue-focused and discerning approach by voters, indicating that religious affiliation had little bearing on their choices at the ballot box.
Sources: Ghana web