Owusu Bempah Attributes NPP’s 2024 Election Loss to Voter Apathy and Candidate Selection
Ernest Owusu Bempah, Deputy Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has attributed the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections to widespread voter apathy among its members, stemming from dissatisfaction with the choice of presidential candidate.
In an interview on Oyerepa TV, Owusu Bempah claimed that over two million NPP supporters abstained from voting because they disagreed with the selection of then-Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s presidential candidate. He recounted an encounter with a taxi driver, an NPP member, who confessed to voting for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) due to disillusionment with the party’s leadership choices.
While Owusu Bempah did not provide empirical data to support his assertion, his concerns echo sentiments expressed by other party members. Nana Akomea, Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation, highlighted that the NPP’s vote count dropped from 6.7 million in 2020 to 4.6 million in 2024, indicating a significant decline in voter turnout among the party’s base.
Further analysis by a fact-finding committee led by former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu identified additional factors contributing to the NPP’s electoral loss. The report criticized the party’s delegate system for selecting candidates, describing it as flawed and leading to the nomination of unpopular individuals. It also pointed to economic hardships and perceptions of government insensitivity as reasons for voter apathy.
Owusu Bempah also expressed personal grievances regarding his role in the party’s campaign. He alleged that he was sidelined during the election period, despite his significant influence, particularly in the Ashanti Region. He criticized the party’s campaign strategy, suggesting that it lacked effective grassroots engagement and failed to address the concerns of the electorate.
In response to the electoral defeat, the NPP has initiated internal reviews to address the identified issues. The party aims to reform its candidate selection process, enhance grassroots participation, and rebuild trust among its members to strengthen its position in future elections.
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