The Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson Jnr., says though he may not be spot on with his polls regarding the Ghanaian political terrain, it is a matter of record that his predictions always comes close to the actual electoral results announced.
Mr Ephson observed that though he has made enemies through the work he does, he believes that whoever God has blessed; no man can curse.
“You know, you don’t like Ben Ephson…but what God has blessed, there’s nothing you can do about it”, he said.
Alluding to the grounds work he did in 2004, the renowned pollster, stated that his newspaper published that then Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Agyekum Kufuor, then the incumbent will poll between 53%- 55% of the total votes cast; of which he secured 52.4%.
He juxtaposed that with predictions made in the same election year by another research agency, Primary Research Association, that Mr. Kufuor will win by garnering 56% of the total votes cast.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Gold, the seasoned journalist also made reference to a similar event prior to the 2008 general elections, when he predicted that Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the NPP would score either 48.2% or 50.2% of the total votes cast; of which he managed to scoop 49.13% in the first round.
“…in that same year, Research International predicted that Nana Addo will poll 52%,” he added.
According to him, he predicted 44.7% – 46.7% for the late president Mills against the 38% Research International envisaged for him in that same year.
“Mills got 47.92%,” he said.
Thus after four consecutive successful predictions, Mr Ephson is of the strong conviction that his methods are tried and tested.
The pollster further stated that prior to this year’s election, “Research International gave Mahama 47% and we gave Mahama 52%. Both Research International and the Daily Dispatch had a variation of 2% and Mahama got 50.7%.
Research International said Akuffo Addo would get 52% and we said 44.7% and he got 47.7%.
The six others, Research International said 1% and we said 3%…we put this down and people forget”.
Source: GhanaWeb
