Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu is leading the race for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), according to a stakeholder perception survey conducted by Africa Wash Consult.
The survey, conducted on August 7, 2026, gives Kokofu an overall stakeholder perception rating of 80.6%, compared with 19.4% for his closest rival, Chairman Odeneho Kweku Appiah, popularly known as COKA.
The poll was based on 841 responses from stakeholders across the Ashanti Region, including chiefs, queens, pastors, Muslims, businessmen, market women, media practitioners and transport operators.
According to the findings, Kokofu led COKA in all nine categories assessed by the researchers.
His strongest ratings were recorded in communication skills, where he scored 88.6%, while he obtained 87.9% each for anger management and loyalty.
His narrowest lead was among taxi and trotro drivers, where he secured 66.7% compared with COKA’s 33.3%.
The survey indicated that COKA recorded comparatively stronger recognition in the transport, media and leadership-skills categories, although Kokofu maintained the overall lead.
Across the nine categories, Kokofu recorded an average share of approximately 78.7%, while COKA averaged 21.3%.
The researchers, however, cautioned against treating the survey as a definitive prediction of the outcome of the Ashanti Regional chairmanship contest.
They recommended that the NPP assess the findings alongside delegate-level evidence, constituency organisation and the candidates’ campaign capacity.
The researchers also advised the party and the candidates to strengthen engagement with stakeholders in the transport sector and the media, where COKA recorded comparatively stronger ratings.
The Ashanti Regional chairmanship is considered one of the NPP’s most influential regional positions, given the region’s importance to the party’s political organisation.
