Lawyer and political analyst Kwame Jantuah has called out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership for failing to hold former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accountable for the party’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
Following the presentation of the NPP’s internal review committee report to the party’s national leadership, Jantuah questioned the silence surrounding Akufo-Addo’s role in what many believe was a self-inflicted electoral collapse.
“How many people and how many members in the NPP feel that President Akufo-Addo played a pivotal role in the defeat?
“And if they feel that way, who is questioning him? Who is asking him? Who is making sure that he’s questioned about some of the things he did and he gives the right answers?”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
As the NPP faces a leadership crisis in the wake of heavy defeat, public debate over the factors that led to the party’s loss has intensified.
Dr Richard Amoako Baah and other political voices have already blamed Akufo-Addo for the NPP’s declining public appeal, but according to Jantuah, the former President’s responsibility remains untouched by his own party.
Jantuah did not mince words as he criticised the internal culture of fear that he believes protects Akufo-Addo from scrutiny within the NPP. He argued that the party’s members are afraid to confront the former President, despite the widespread belief that his actions contributed to their electoral misfortunes.
Referencing the words of Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, he accused former President Akufo-Addo of silencing dissent within the party, asserting that his arrogance and disregard for internal criticism were key drivers of the NPP’s downfall.
“They want to talk about the President, but they are not able to because he is the one who caused the whole defeat. It should be put on his head”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
Jantuah’s remarks align with those of Dr Amoako Baah, who stated that if he had been party chairman, he would have “expelled Akufo-Addo from the party” altogether.
Ken Ofori-Atta Factor
In Jantuah’s view, the NPP’s internal crisis cannot be separated from the controversial tenure of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. He recalled the failed attempt by 90 NPP MPs to have Ofori-Atta dismissed during Akufo-Addo’s second term, only for their efforts to be brushed aside by the President.
“One thing we don’t do well in this country – party members do not criticize their leaders when they do wrong, and it’s high time we started doing that”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
The refusal to remove Ofori-Atta, despite growing public and internal backlash over his handling of the economy, reinforced what Jantuah describes as a dangerous culture of unaccountability.
He argued that Ofori-Atta’s refusal to heed advice contributed significantly to the collapse of public confidence in the NPP. “Wasn’t Ken Ofori-Atta the main challenge of the NPP? Was it not part and parcel of creating the mess in the NPP?”
For Jantuah, listening is a central part of governance – something he believes was sorely missing during former President Akufo-Addo’s final years in office.
Political Parties and Media Ownership
Beyond internal party politics, Jantuah also raised concerns about political interference in Ghana’s media landscape.
“Where political party members also have media stations – I think that thing should be banned. It should be banned”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
He issued this strong call for a nationwide ban on political party ownership of media houses, citing “abuse” and toxicity as rampant outcomes of such arrangements.
He criticized the way political media platforms have become channels for insults, misinformation, and divisiveness, arguing that their influence undermines democratic dialogue.
“We talk about democracy, but do we really understand democracy, or do they feel democracy is when you come and sit on TV, and banter, lie and insult each other? No”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
Jantuah dismissed comparisons with foreign media outlets such as Fox News, insisting that Ghana’s unique socio-economic context demands a different level of responsibility and ethical media ownership.
“Forget those people, they have money that we don’t have. One billionaire can buy the whole of Ghana. Let’s talk about our own, and let’s build our own”
Kwame Jantuah, Lawyer and Political Analyst
As the NPP continues its internal review process, voices like Jantuah suggest that the real challenge lies not in the pages of committee reports, but in the party’s willingness to confront the legacy of its most powerful figures.
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