Former Vice President and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has attributed the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections to a combination of economic hardship, unpopular policy decisions, and internal fractures that hampered its campaign efforts.
Speaking at Takoradi Technical University during the launch of his nationwide “Thank You” tour, Dr. Bawumia pointed to what he described as “the arrogance of power,” failure to heed public sentiment, and a lack of responsiveness within party leadership as critical missteps.
“In reviewing the data and post-election reports, certain themes repeatedly emerged,” he said. “Ghanaians were struggling under the weight of a high cost of living, and many of our own members warned us about policies like the E-Levy and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. We failed to listen.”
The E-Levy, a widely criticized tax on electronic transactions, and the government’s debt restructuring measures under the International Monetary Fund program—referred to as the DDEP—were deeply unpopular and fueled discontent among voters already grappling with inflation and delayed payments across public employment schemes, including the Nation Builders Corps and school feeding programs.
Dr. Bawumia also pointed to the party’s reluctance to reshuffle government officials as a key grievance. “There was a clear call from the base for change in the cabinet,” he said. “But after eight years, we failed to act.”
Beyond economic issues, Bawumia highlighted internal party disunity and ineffective campaigning as strategic failings. Despite strongholds like the Western Region, he acknowledged the NPP did not deploy enough resources or energy to solidify support.
“The NDC didn’t run on a strong message. Instead, they simply replayed our internal criticisms back at us,” he said. “We were divided, and that division gave the opposition an opening.”
He dismissed narratives attributing the party’s loss to his religious background, suggesting that the root causes were more complex and centered on political decisions and campaign dynamics.
As he embarks on his post-election tour, Dr. Bawumia has framed the defeat as a lesson in governance and party cohesion—urging supporters not to tear down fellow members in pursuit of power.
Source:TheDotNews