Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has admitted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would have faced a devastating loss if the 2024 elections had been held in August.
He predicted that the flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, would have struggled to secure even 30% of the vote.
In an interview with Nhyira FM, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu reflected on the harsh economic conditions that plagued Ghana earlier in the year, suggesting that the slight improvement in the economy towards December offered only a reprieve for the struggling party.
“At that time, the hardship was unbearable. If the elections had been in August, we would have barely crossed 30%,” he admitted.
Ultimately, the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia, secured 4,877,611 votes (41.75%), significantly trailing John Mahama of the NDC, who garnered 6,591,790 votes (56.42%).
Past elections
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who chaired the NPP’s manifesto committee, blamed the lacklustre campaign and waning enthusiasm for the disheartening outcome.
“In past elections, the energy was undeniable — massive crowds gathered in support. This time, it was like we had already accepted defeat,” he lamented.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also revealed a stark warning from Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to President Akufo-Addo back in 2017 about the dangers of making Ghanaians ‘hungry and angry.’
He accused the leadership of ignoring this caution, which, combined with the economic fallout from COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, further alienated voters.
“The signs were there, but we failed to act. Corruption allegations, a rigid leadership style, and the perception of a ‘family-and-friends’ government hurt us deeply,” he admitted.
The Ashanti Region, the party’s traditional stronghold, also felt abandoned due to a lack of infrastructure development, causing a severe disconnect between regional and grassroots supporters.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasized the growing disillusionment within the NPP, noting that while supporters were open about their grievances, they remained hopeful for change. However, the future of the party’s leadership and Dr. Bawumia’s role as flagbearer remain uncertain.
“We’ve heard from Ashanti, but we need to assess the sentiments from the other 15 regions before deciding our path forward,” he noted.
Reflecting on the controversial choice of Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh as Dr. Bawumia’s running mate, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed that despite his suitability, the expected boost among the youth did not materialize.
“The idea was to bridge the divide within the party, but instead, we saw a deeper fracture,” he remarked somberly.
The NPP now faces a daunting path to reclaim its influence and win back its disillusioned supporters with growing internal divisions and lost trust.