Former Bantama MP Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu has opened a commanding lead in the race for the Ashanti Regional chairmanship of Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), according to a stakeholder perception survey conducted by Africa Wash Consult.

The survey, conducted on 7 August, put Kokofu’s overall stakeholder perception at 80.6 percent, compared with 19.4 percent for his closest rival, Chairman Odeneho Kweku Appiah, popularly known as COKA.

The poll drew 841 responses from a range of stakeholders across the Ashanti Region, including traditional leaders, religious figures, businesspeople, market women, media practitioners and transport operators.

Kokofu led in all nine categories assessed, recording his strongest scores in communication skills at 88.6 percent, and in anger management and loyalty, both at 87.9 percent.

His narrowest margin was among taxi and trotro drivers, where he recorded 66.7 percent against 33.3 percent for COKA.

COKA performed comparatively better in the transport, media and leadership-skills categories, according to the survey.

Across the nine categories, Kokofu’s average share stood at approximately 78.7 percent, against 21.3 percent for COKA.

The researchers, however, cautioned against treating the findings as a definitive prediction of the election outcome.

They recommended that the NPP complement the perception findings with delegate-level evidence, constituency organisation and an assessment of the candidates’ campaign capacity.

The report also called for particular attention to transport-sector and media engagement, where COKA recorded relatively stronger support.

The Ashanti Regional NPP chairmanship contest is expected to be closely watched as the party prepares for its regional elections, with both candidates seeking to lead the party’s largest regional stronghold.

The election is slated for 15 August.