Local issues were some of the issues that contributed to the NPP’s defeat, with significant dissatisfaction in various constituencies, according to the findings of a committee tasked to investigate the abysmal performance of the party in the 2024 elections.
Kwadaso, for example, voiced frustration over the lack of development compared to neighboring Bantama, which had more infrastructure, including multiple astro-turfs and well-developed streets.
This disparity stirred tensions, as voters in Kwadaso, with a larger population, felt neglected.
“Kwadaso has no astro-turf, and while Bantama has four, we felt like we were being left behind in terms of development.
It caused a lot of anger among the voters here,” one Kwadaso resident expressed. In Kwabre East, where the NPP traditionally gained the most votes, residents were frustrated by the lack of road infrastructure.
During a presidential visit to the region, President Akufo-Addo remarked that if residents were refusing to vote due to the poor roads, he would not force them to vote for the NPP.
This comment was seen as an insult, and it led to voter backlash against the party.
“When the President said he wouldn’t force us to vote if we were upset about the roads, it felt like he was dismissing our concerns.
The people here decided to punish the NPP for that,” a Kwabre East voter explained.
Meanwhile, internal divisions within the party also played a major role in the defeat.
In Offinso South, rifts between the constituency chairman and the MP, as well as other executive officers, created significant tension that hampered the party’s election efforts.
Similarly, Offinso North faced difficulties due to a schism between the former MP and other key figures within the constituency.
“The conflict between the chairman and MP in Offinso South had a massive impact on our campaign.
If the party doesn’t address these internal issues, it will be difficult to win in the future, a concerned party member from Offinso noted.
The committee concluded that resolving these local disputes and addressing concerns around infrastructure and leadership unity would be critical to improving the party’s chances in future elections.
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