Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Constitutional and Legal Committee, has identified four key reasons behind the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections.
According to Nkrumah, a committee led by Prof. Mike Oquaye pinpointed these factors as the main causes of the party’s poor performance.
The committee’s findings highlighted economic challenges as a major contributor to the party’s defeat.
The party’s inability to robustly address economic issues led to voter dissatisfaction, with many Ghanaians feeling that the government hadn’t done enough to resolve economic hardships, resulting in voter apathy or a swing against the party.
Additionally, the committee identified lapses in party corporate governance as another significant factor.
Weak corporate governance led to dysfunction in some local party structures, with Nkrumah emphasizing that internal party management issues played a significant role in the party’s poor performance.
Internal operational conflicts also contributed to the party’s defeat.
Unclear roles and responsibilities within the party led to disputes over decision-making authority, creating confusion and hurting the party’s coordination on the ground.
Furthermore, the committee found that a widespread perception of exclusion in decision-making processes affected the party’s performance. Many party members felt excluded from key decisions, impacting their morale and enthusiasm to push the party’s agenda.
Nkrumah noted that this lack of inclusiveness impacted the party’s overall performance.
The NPP is taking steps to address these issues, including implementing reforms based on the committee’s recommendations.
A National Delegates Conference was recently held to chart a forward-looking path for the party and address internal challenges.
According to Nkrumah, this conference was a significant step in the party’s efforts to reform and improve its performance.
