Renowned political scientist, Professor Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, has strongly criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for embarking on what it calls a “Thank You Tour” following its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
According to the Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, the gesture is not only mistimed but also symptomatic of a deeper culture of political arrogance and disconnect from the lived realities of the Ghanaian people.
In a strongly worded critique, Professor Gyampo questioned the appropriateness of saying “thank you” at a time when Ghanaians are still grappling with the devastating aftermath of what he described as a government marked by “unprecedented incompetence,” economic mismanagement, and blatant disregard for public accountability.
Drawing parallels with basic human social conduct, he emphasised that “thank you” is an expression of gratitude for a favour or kind gesture, while “sorry” is used to acknowledge wrongdoing and seek forgiveness.
“Within the above context, I find the NPP Thank You Tour problematic. It is either they don’t know when to say thank you, or they are still taking Ghanaians for granted by still showing how arrogant they have congenitally been.”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
The professor accused the NPP of presiding over a period of governance that was marked by “gaslighting,” misinformation, and economic recklessness.
He said the government treated citizens with disdain, denied their suffering, and acted with a sense of impunity that was deeply offensive to democratic principles.
“We were hungry, and they said we weren’t hungry. They stole our savings from the banks by giving us crude haircuts in an unprecedented manner, and they insisted we should praise them for this.
“Their handling of our economy was as if they hadn’t been to school before, and their show of greed in stealing was on the roof”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
According to Professor Gyampo, these failings led to mass discontent that was both publicly expressed and privately harboured in households across the country, culminating in the NPP’s electoral defeat.
He noted that the NPP’s arrogance persisted even as they suffered political losses, pointing out how they continued to insist on their ambition to “break the eight” despite the public backlash.
“Even when we rubbished their insistence to break the eight, they responded by saying ‘it is possible’—the height of NPP arrogance!”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Post-Election Survey
Citing five recent post-election surveys, Professor Gyampo asserted that the party’s popularity has plummeted to the point where it would be unlikely to win even 25 per cent of the vote if elections were held today.
This, he argued, should serve as a sobering wake-up call rather than a cue for self-congratulation.
He prescribed what he called a “National Repentance Conference” where all members of the NPP—past and present—must come together, acknowledge their wrongdoings, seek forgiveness from Ghanaians and God, and commit to genuine reform.
“Afterwards, they must go on a National Sorry and Apology Tour where no one among them dissociates themselves from the harm done to Ghanaians; and where they all go on their knees at every platform to apologise and ask for forgiveness from Ghana.”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
He rebuked recent efforts by some party figures to distance themselves from the Akufo-Addo administration, describing such acts as “politically uninformed and childish.”
“Everyone must own up, and everyone must fix. Thank You Tour can only come in after Ghanaians have cautiously accepted the apology of the party and have demonstrated this by shoring up the NPP votes of less than 40 percent to about 40 to 44 percent.”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Professor Gyampo also advised the party to refrain from premature attacks on the new Mahama-led government, pointing out that early signs indicate a “different and better” approach to governance.
He criticized ongoing leadership struggles within the NPP, stating that the current party executives have lost legitimacy after leading the party to a “humiliating” defeat.
“This is not the time for leadership struggles in the party that has nearly collapsed and risks annihilation. This is the time for sober introspection.”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
In concluding, he said this was free political consultancy to the NPP.
“Let them take it in good faith or, as usual, let them continue doing the things they were taught by their immediate past leader—acts which the founding fathers of the party like the BJ da Rochas, the Agyenim Boatengs, the Ala Adjeteys, the Odoi Sykes etc., abhorred.”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
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