The New Patriotic Party (NPP) suffered a significant electoral defeat in the 2024 general elections, raising serious concerns about the party’s future and the urgent need for rebuilding.
According to Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, a Political Scientist and Head of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, the party’s loss was not accidental but the result of accumulated missteps, particularly corruption, monetization of politics, internal conflicts, and poor leadership decisions.
Dr. Asah Asante, speaking in a post-election analysis, stressed that the NPP must take the findings of its internal report seriously if it intends to regain public trust and reposition itself for future electoral success.
“The party, particularly the leadership, was always dismissive of issues of corruption. Especially the [former President], to the extent that people gave him [Akufo Addo] a name tag – a ‘clearing agent’ – which he was not comfortable with.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Political Scientist
However, the report reveals that corruption was widespread within the party, and the government turned a blind eye to it. Dr. Asah Asante referenced Transparency International’s corruption reports, which consistently flagged corruption concerns, yet the NPP leadership refused to act.
According to Dr. Asah Asante, the electoral defeat should serve as a humbling experience for the NPP. He emphasized that the party must now make a conscious effort to address corruption.
Monetization of Politics: A Double-Edged Sword
Another critical factor that contributed to the NPP’s defeat was the excessive monetization of politics. Dr. Asah Asante noted that the party often denied the role of money in elections, yet its own members admitted that vote-buying was rampant.
He argued that vote-buying and excessive spending during primaries and general elections created resentment among voters, leading to widespread apathy.
One of the most damning revelations in the NPP’s report was the extent of voter apathy. The NPP initially claimed that two million of its supporters did not vote, but Dr. Asah Asante refuted such claims.
“If you expect 10 people to vote for you and only five, come to vote, what it means is that indirectly, the others have voted against you.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Political Scientist
He further explained that corruption played a significant role in voter disengagement. The public perception that the party was embroiled in corruption scandals discouraged many of its traditional supporters from voting.
Ethnicity and Religion: A False Narrative
Dr. Asah Asante dismissed claims that ethnicity and religion played a role in the NPP’s defeat. He used the example of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory in the party’s primaries as evidence that ethnicity was not a major factor.
“If there was anything to go by, Dr. Bawumia, in the first place, wouldn’t have won the primaries. Kennedy Agyapong contested against him, and Ashanti’s were seven in number, yet in some Ashanti polling stations, Bawumia won while the Ashanti’s [contesting him] scored zero.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Political Scientist
Similarly, he debunked the argument that religion influenced voter choices, noting that the NPP has traditionally been dominated by Christians, yet Bawumia, a Muslim, was elected as the party’s flagbearer.
Dr. Asah Asante also identified internal conflicts as a major setback for the NPP. He stressed that the party’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms were weak.
“If you read the report, you realize that a lot of issues from previous primaries were brought to the fore. And they did not handle that. They need to strengthen their ADR department and deal with the whole selection conflict.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Political Scientist
He emphasized that the failure to address internal grievances led to disunity within the party, affecting its overall performance.
Dr. Asah Asante highlighted nepotism as another significant issue that weakened the party. He described it as a form of state capture, where political appointments were concentrated among a few individuals connected to the leadership. This practice created resentment among party members and the general public, further contributing to voter apathy.
A Leadership Failure
According to Dr. Asah Asante the inability of party members to challenge [former] President Akufo-Addo when his policies and decisions were leading the party astray.
“Nobody could muster the courage and tell the President face-to-face that, ‘Mr. President, with all due respect, we are going on the wrong route.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Political Scientist
This failure in leadership and accountability played a crucial role in the party’s defeat.
The NPP’s 2024 electoral defeat presents a critical moment for introspection and rebuilding. Dr. Asah Asante has outlined key areas the party must address, including corruption, monetization of politics, internal conflicts, and leadership failures.
Whether the NPP takes this defeat as a learning opportunity or continues on the same trajectory remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: without major reforms, the party risks further alienating its supporters and diminishing its chances of a political comeback.
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