BY Daniel Bampoe
Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has made a rare and candid admission about the failures of the NPP administration that led to its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking to party delegates in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of the party, acknowledging that mistakes made during their time in power cost the NPP dearly.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Bawumia revealed that extensive research conducted after the 2024 elections showed glaring lapses in governance and party management.
“After we finished the elections and conducted research, we realised that the government and our party [NPP] made many mistakes in governance,” he confessed.
He went on to admit that certain promises were not fulfilled, while other decisions taken by the government turned out to be costly.
“There were things we were supposed to do, but we did not do them. There were also things that, if we had known better, we would not have done,” he explained.
A Collective Responsibility
In what many analysts view as a departure from the usual finger-pointing within Ghanaian politics, Dr. Bawumia shouldered collective responsibility, stressing that the failure was not that of one man but of the entire leadership structure.
“So, I am here — and we are all part of this: the Vice President, Ministers, MPs, board chairpersons, and appointees. We have made mistakes, and we ask for your forgiveness,” he declared.
“We have truly learned our lessons, and by God’s will, if you elect me as flagbearer and I become president, such things will not happen again.”
The Ashanti Region, regarded as the stronghold of the NPP, has often been the bedrock of the party’s electoral fortunes.
However, following the 2024 defeat, internal reports such as the Mike Oquaye-led investigative committee highlighted deep-seated frustrations among grassroots members who felt abandoned after the NPP assumed power.
Dr. Bawumia admitted that these concerns were valid and formed part of the reasons the party fell out of favour with voters.
“We have really learned our lessons, so please forgive us — it will not happen again,” he emphasized.
Policy Proposal: 10 Appointments Per Constituency
To address the issue of neglect at the grassroots level, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his long-standing proposal of spreading government appointments across all constituencies.
According to him, should he be elected President, he would allocate at least 10 appointments to each of the 276 constituencies across the country.
“Party members have been saying, and this is captured in the Mike Oquaye report, that when the party is voted into power to form a government, they are often left out in the processes of governance. That is why I came up with this policy,” he explained.
He argued that appointments must not be concentrated among a few individuals in Accra or select regions but spread fairly to give every constituency a sense of ownership in governance.
“Many constituencies are often neglected, but I strongly believe that guaranteeing each constituency a minimum of 10 appointments is the surest way of ensuring our grassroots members are also recognised,” he said.
The Road Ahead
The 2024 election loss remains a painful chapter for the NPP, which had hoped to secure a third consecutive term in office.
Many analysts point to economic hardships, rising unemployment, and perceptions of corruption as key factors that worked against the party.
By openly admitting to these failures, Dr. Bawumia appears to be positioning himself as the candidate willing to confront the party’s mistakes head-on.
His call for forgiveness, coupled with promises of inclusivity and grassroots recognition, may resonate with disillusioned party members as he seeks the NPP’s flagbearership.
