Former Municipal Chief Executive for Suame, Hon. Maxwell Ofosu Boakye, has argued that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should not be singled out as the sole reason for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections, insisting that the loss was the result of multiple internal and external factors.
Speaking on Orange Sunrise with Alfa Ali, the former MCE said the party’s challenges went beyond its presidential candidate, pointing to the conduct and public comments of some influential party members, as well as the failure to adequately protect traditional NPP strongholds during the elections. According to him, these factors collectively weakened the party’s appeal to voters nationwide.
Hon. Ofosu Boakye also noted that the timing of fuel price increases shortly before the elections significantly heightened public dissatisfaction and negatively affected the party’s electoral fortunes. He explained that the economic pressure felt by ordinary Ghanaians at the time played a critical role in shaping voter sentiment.
Addressing long-standing public debates, he firmly rejected claims that Dr. Bawumia’s religion or northern background contributed to the NPP’s defeat.
“We should acknowledge that it is not because Dr. Mahamudu is Muslim or because he is from the North that we lost the 2024 elections,” he stated.
Instead, he argued that the party had become largely unattractive to many voters ahead of the polls and urged party supporters to rally behind Dr. Bawumia as the NPP prepares for its next presidential primaries.
The former MCE further claimed that the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is benefiting from economic interventions introduced under the NPP administration, particularly the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. He attributed recent economic improvements to foundations laid by the previous government.
While admitting that the NPP’s weak communication strategy allowed NDC propaganda to gain traction, Hon. Ofosu Boakye maintained that the party’s record over the past eight years, especially under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, remains commendable in terms of economic management and infrastructure development.
His comments come as the NPP gears up for its presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026, amid renewed internal debate about the party’s future direction.
