‘The electorates punished the NPP for missteps’ – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s defeat in the 2024 general elections is a direct consequence of governance errors made under the Akufo-Addo administration.

Speaking on The Delay Show with Deloris Frimpong Manso, which was monitored keenly by Today.com.gh, the former President cautioned political leaders against ignoring public sentiment and warned that voters respond decisively when leadership goes off course. “The electorate punished the NPP for missteps,” Mr Kufuor said, stressing that Ghanaians do not reward governments that take them for granted.

Mr Kufuor pointed to several controversial decisions—including the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the National Cathedral project, and the failed Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal—as major contributors to the party’s electoral loss. He explained that these policies significantly eroded public confidence, especially in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the former President, the NPP’s landslide victory in 2016 was built largely on the achievements of his administration, which formed the backbone of the party’s campaign. “Before the 2016 election in which Akufo-Addo was elected, the campaign was built on my achievements. Those achievements played a key role in his victory,” he said.

He noted, however, that the direction of governance changed after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assumed office, despite initially showing promise. “The government started on a good note, but things changed after he assumed power,” he added.

Mr Kufuor expressed particular concern over the National Cathedral project, criticising the demolition of state facilities and the use of national resources for a project that remains incomplete. He revealed that he was not consulted on the matter. “I was not consulted, as I did not attend cabinet meetings. I only saw the construction,” he said, adding that buildings housing judges and other officials were pulled down to make way for the project.

He also referenced the troubled PDS arrangement and challenges in the bond market following the pandemic, describing these issues as symptoms of deeper governance problems that the electorate ultimately rejected.

Reflecting on the party’s political trajectory, Mr Kufuor highlighted the stark contrast between the NPP’s “historic” win in 2016, the tense 2020 polls that produced a hung Parliament, and the eventual defeat in 2024. “We won the 2016 elections by a landslide. The 2020 elections were tense and produced a hung Parliament, and the 2024 elections were something else entirely,” he noted.

Mr Kufuor said the outcome of the 2024 polls should serve as a reminder that political power must be exercised with discipline, accountability, and respect for the electorate’s expectations.