Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President and NPP’s candidate for the 2024 elections, has acknowledged the sentiments of NPP supporters regarding the factors that contributed to the party’s defeat in the recent elections.
During the ongoing Thank You Tour, which began on Saturday, Dr. Bawumia outlined several reasons he believes led to the NPP’s loss in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He noted that many of these reasons stemmed from government actions and inactions that displeased the populace, including the party’s own supporters nationwide.
‘Numerous individuals have attributed our loss to various factors, with some, including our General Secretary, suggesting a spiritual cause,’ Dr. Bawumia remarked. ‘However, upon closer examination, it is evident that there are multiple reasons, some of which relate to our own choices and inaction.
The rising cost of living and the perception of arrogance in governance were significant issues.’ He elaborated on specific concerns, such as the e-levy and the debt exchange initiative, which garnered agreement and support from party members.
‘We encountered challenges such as the high cost of living, perceived arrogance, and a reluctance to heed advice. The party had requested a reshuffle, yet we failed to act on this for eight years. Both the party and the citizens expressed their disapproval of the e-levy, but we chose to ignore their concerns.’
Dr. Bawumia further emphasized, ‘With approximately 16 million mobile money account users, introducing an unpopular measure can provoke significant backlash from this demographic.’
The political party advised against impacting pensioners during the debt restructuring process. Following a meeting, a decision was made to uphold this stance, and the President communicated to the citizens of Ghana that there would be no reduction in benefits, which was met with approval.
However, ultimately, a reduction did occur, affecting approximately 800,000 bondholders, primarily from the middle class, each with dependents. Dr. Bawumia expressed concern over the insufficient support for youth-oriented initiatives, including NABCO and afforestation programs.
He noted that the decision was made to withhold payments to NABCO workers, totaling around 100,000, effectively terminating the program, and similarly, the youth involved in afforestation, numbering about 75,000, were not compensated.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia pointed out the inadequate management of key projects in various regions, alongside the contentious national cathedral initiative.
He remarked that despite significant financial investment, there has been little advancement on the cathedral project. Looking ahead, Dr. Bawumia called for unity among party members and emphasized the need for diligent efforts to address the issues identified by the Prof. Mike Oquaye Committee.
