NPP Did It First – Haruna Mohammed Defends Party’s Election Review Tradition
Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has strongly refuted claims that the NPP is mimicking the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by establishing committees to assess electoral outcomes. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on April 16, Haruna emphasized that this tradition of setting up review committees is rooted in the NPP’s history, not borrowed from the opposition.
According to him, the practice dates back to 1992, when the NPP first challenged the results of that year’s presidential elections. He cited the “Stolen Verdict” report—a comprehensive document produced by a dedicated committee—as proof of the party’s early commitment to evaluating election outcomes. “It wasn’t written by one person. It was a collaborative effort by a team mandated by the party,” he said.
Haruna asserted that this approach has been consistent, whether the party wins or loses. He mentioned that even after their 2020 electoral victory, the NPP formed the Osafo Maafo committee to analyze their performance. This, he argued, demonstrates that introspection is embedded in the NPP’s political culture.
The most recent review, led by Professor Mike Ocquaye, came in the wake of the party’s disappointing performance in the 2024 general elections, where the NPP secured 41% of the vote. Haruna, however, reminded the public that this isn’t the worst in the party’s history. “In 1996, we had 39%. This is not the lowest. So we are using this process not out of shame, but tradition,” he explained.
He firmly rejected suggestions that the NPP is taking cues from the NDC, saying that such claims are baseless. “We are not learning from the NDC. This is what we’ve always done,” he stated.
Haruna reiterated that the establishment of such committees is part of the NPP’s identity. It is a mechanism to evaluate their performance, learn from past mistakes, and strengthen future strategies. “Whether we win or lose, we always set up committees to assess ourselves. It’s not about copying anyone. This is who we are as a party,” he stressed.
Through this historical context, Haruna Mohammed underscored the NPP’s commitment to internal accountability and strategic development, dismissing any perception of imitation and reinforcing the party’s legacy of self-assessment and forward planning.
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