Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), the New Patriotic Party’s 2024 Vice Presidential Candidate, has openly acknowledged that the party’s failure to listen to Ghanaians was the principal cause of its devastating defeat in the 2024 general elections.
The former Energy and Education Minister said months of introspection had led to a clear conclusion.
“One thing I’ve concluded in the last 10 months is that there was a broken trust between citizens and government. The trust that was broken hurt so much that we saw the results so broken.”
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Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Dr Opoku Prempeh did not hold back, stating, “We didn’t listen enough; we assumed a lot of things we shouldn’t have assumed.”
He said that although external factors, such as global shipping cost hikes and the COVID-19 pandemic, intensified economic pressure on Ghana, the party’s downfall was rooted in domestic leadership failures.
NAPO stressed that many governments around the world were swept out of office due to severe economic shocks and pandemic-related hardship.
“People had died in their droves that had never been seen before, without a military crisis or World War,” he said.
He added that only autocratic regimes escaped anti-incumbency waves, reinforcing that the NPP’s loss was part of a global pattern, yet their failure to engage citizens worsened the outcome.
Dr Opoku Prempeh insisted the NPP must reconstruct its relationship with Ghanaians. “We must build structures that listen more, engage more, and respond better to the concerns of our people.”
According to him, transparency and consistent public engagement will be crucial if the party hopes to return to power.
The former Manhyia South MP reaffirmed his support for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Presidential candidate, ahead of the January 2026 NPP primaries.
He described Bawumia as: “The best bet of the party in recapturing power from the governing National Democratic Congress.”
Other aspirants include:
Kennedy Agyapong, former MP for Assin North
Dr Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP for Bosomtwe
Kwabena Agyapong, former NPP General Secretary