New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate for the 2024 elections, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has attributed the party’s electoral loss to deep-rooted internal challenges, rather than purely economic issues. In an interview with Citi FM, the outgoing Energy Minister, known as NAPO, stressed that the party’s struggles stemmed from long-standing governance problems within its ranks.
“The loss was not just about economic mismanagement,” he explained. “It is about unresolved internal issues and organizational flaws that the party has failed to address.” NAPO also highlighted the desperate efforts by Members of Parliament (MPs), who were seen pleading with voters to participate, only to be met with rejection. “MPs were begging people to go and vote, but the voters refused. That’s not about economic mismanagement; it’s about a deep-seated problem the party hasn’t addressed.”
Reflecting on the party’s past, NAPO recalled the NPP’s near-collapse in 1992 when it had no representation in Parliament. He explained, “The country and the party learned from that experience,” citing the party’s decision to initially boycott Parliament after the elections. “They later realized that boycotting Parliament was a mistake, and they decided it was better to engage with the few seats they had rather than isolate themselves. The party evolved, and so did the country.”
NAPO concluded that political setbacks, while challenging, are not unique to the NPP. “You can’t imagine yourself to be a master of everything at all times. There are certain events that you may not be able to control, and they will hit you. It’s not just the NPP that has faced this.” This reflection follows the NPP’s defeat in its bid for a third consecutive term, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerging victorious and bringing former president John Mahama back to power.
