Nana Akomea, Vice Chairman of the Dr. Bawumia 2024 Campaign Team, has admitted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) foresaw their defeat in the 2024 general elections months before the polls were conducted. In a candid discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana program, Akomea disclosed that internal surveys by the party indicated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, John Dramani Mahama, had a clear advantage.
According to Akomea, the party’s research, carried out as early as February 2024, revealed that Mahama was leading the race by a significant ten percentage points. The findings raised concerns within the NPP, though subsequent polling later in the year suggested a narrowing gap.
"In February and March, the NDC was leading by about 10 percentage points, which was quite concerning," Akomea revealed. "But by September and October, it had come down to about two points. That gave us some confidence as we noticed new momentum in the campaign.”
Despite the apparent narrowing of the margin, Akomea acknowledged that the NPP was still grappling with internal challenges, including voter apathy and disgruntlement among their supporters.
NPP's Struggles with Supporter Apathy
Akomea highlighted voter apathy as a major factor that impacted the NPP’s performance. Reflecting on the voter turnout figures, he expressed alarm at the significant number of registered voters who abstained from the elections.
“Over two million voters staying away from the polls is a massive figure,” Akomea said. “It’s something we need to investigate deeply. We need to understand the reasons behind the disenchantment and why so many people decided not to vote.”
Akomea emphasized that while internal polls gave them some hope of a tighter contest in the latter half of the year, the final outcome confirmed the accuracy of their earlier projections.
On December 9, 2024, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, officially declared the results of the general elections. John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the NDC, secured an emphatic victory with 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the total valid votes cast.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s candidate, garnered 4,657,304 votes, accounting for 41.61%. The remaining votes were distributed among other candidates.
The wide margin of victory between Mahama and Bawumia, coupled with the substantial voter abstention, has prompted the NPP to re-evaluate its strategies and address concerns within its support base.
Post-Election Reflections and Lessons
Akomea suggested that the party’s next steps should include a thorough assessment of its internal workings and campaign strategies. He noted that the findings from their internal research months before the elections could have been leveraged more effectively to mitigate the eventual outcome.
“We had data showing us what the results could be, but there’s always the challenge of translating data into actionable solutions,” he said. “There’s a lot we need to reflect on as a party, from grassroots engagement to understanding the pulse of the electorate.”
A Turning Point for the NPP
The 2024 elections have left the NPP at a crossroads. Akomea’s revelations underline the importance of reconnecting with their base and addressing the root causes of voter apathy. The outcome also serves as a wake-up call for the party to rebuild trust and confidence among its supporters.
Meanwhile, the NDC is preparing to transition into government with high expectations from Ghanaians. Mahama’s return to power marks a significant chapter in Ghana’s political landscape, with promises to address pressing national issues, including economic recovery, infrastructure development, and improved governance.
For the NPP, the task ahead is to analyze the factors that led to their defeat, rebuild their structure, and prepare for the future. As Akomea succinctly put it, “This is not the end of the road for the NPP. It’s an opportunity to reflect, grow, and come back stronger.”
As Ghana moves forward, the focus remains on ensuring that political leadership addresses the aspirations and concerns of the people, fostering unity and progress for the nation.
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