Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has pointed to an unheeded warning from Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as a significant factor in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) poor performance in the 2024 elections.
Speaking on Nhyira FM, the former Suame MP recalled that in 2017, the Ashanti overlord cautioned President Akufo-Addo that hunger and anger had led to the downfall of the Mahama government in 2016. He warned that if similar conditions persisted under the NPP administration, history would repeat itself.
Reflecting on the party’s defeat, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu admitted that early signs of voter dissatisfaction were evident in the lukewarm reception given to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign. Unlike in previous elections, large crowds did not line the streets to welcome the NPP candidate, signaling a disconnect between the party and its base.
The former Majority Leader, who chaired the NPP’s manifesto committee, acknowledged that economic hardships had significantly eroded voter confidence. He suggested that had the elections been held in August instead of December, Dr. Bawumia might have received only 30% of the vote against Mr. Mahama, as signs of economic recovery only emerged closer to the polls.
Beyond the economy, other factors contributed to the NPP’s defeat, including perceptions of corruption, dissatisfaction with the government’s leadership style, and internal divisions. Many party members and the public felt that governance had been concentrated in a small inner circle, creating widespread frustration.
In the Ashanti Region, traditionally an NPP stronghold, complaints of neglect in infrastructure development weakened the party’s support. The choice of Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh as running mate was seen as an effort to consolidate internal party unity, but Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu admitted that expectations of strong youth support did not materialize.
Looking ahead, he called for deep introspection and reforms within the NPP. He noted that many party supporters had openly voiced their frustrations – a sign, he said, that they were still willing to engage with the party if meaningful changes were made.
The future of Dr. Bawumia within the NPP remains uncertain. While the Ashanti Region’s post-election analysis did not link his loss to religion or ethnicity, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stressed that feedback from other regions would ultimately determine his viability as a future flagbearer.
