Bawumia: DDEP, arrogance of power, high cost of living, e-levy led to NPP’s 2024 defeat
The 2024 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has outlined several reasons behind the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections, pointing to internal divisions, economic hardship, and leadership shortcomings.
Speaking at the launch of his nationwide Thank You Tour at the Takoradi Technical University’s (TTU) auditorium, Dr. Bawumia noted that the NPP lost touch with the sentiments of ordinary Ghanaians.
“When you study all the reports we have so far, certain factors were highlighted. These include the high cost of living; the prices of goods and services went up and left many Ghanaians struggling,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia acknowledged that the party leadership ignored critical advice from within. “The party members told us to conduct a reshuffle, but after eight years we didn’t listen. The party members told us they didn’t want E-Levy, but we implemented it. Again, the party members told us that the DDEP was going to be a major challenge but we went ahead to implement it,” he admitted.
He highlighted that several government programmes faced financial challenges, saying, “Things were bad, and we were not able to pay NABCO, those employed under youth and afforestation, caterers and others were also not being paid.”
Dr. Bawumia also pointed to lapses in the party’s campaign strategy, especially in areas traditionally considered NPP strongholds. “Even in the regions that give us some vote, we didn’t put in a lot of work there. Western Region is an example,” he noted.
He refuted claims that religious bias played a major role in his defeat, emphasizing instead that a lack of unity within the NPP severely undermined their chances.
“So, going into the 2024 general election, the NPP as a party was not fully united. The opposition at the time, the NDC, even though didn’t have a campaign message, was playing back our language against each other back to us,” he explained.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that party members must learn not to destroy one another internally during political contests. “That is why it is important that as we go about with our campaign, you don’t bring down your opponent so that you can win,” he urged.
Dr Bawumia’s comments painted a sobering picture of internal discontent, poor policy communication, and leadership missteps as major factors that cost the NPP dearly at the polls.
