As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) embarks on a journey of introspection following its significant loss in the 2024 elections, a leading academic has offered a prescription for the party’s revitalization.
Dr. Jonathan Asante Okyere, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has urged the NPP to overhaul its campaign strategy, advocating for a more inclusive approach that showcases non-partisan and highly respected individuals.
Speaking on Starr Today on Monday, December 23, Dr. Okyere emphasized that the NPP should take a cue from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by incorporating reputable and widely admired individuals into their campaign.
He cited the 2024 campaign as an example, suggesting that President Akufo-Addo’s involvement was not ideal due to his low approval ratings, as indicated by Global Infoanalytics data.
“The president had the lowest performance rate in approval rate,” Dr. Okyere noted. “If you look at the Global Infoanalytics data, he had the lowest approval rate. So, you didn’t need such a person to lead the frontline of your campaign.” Dr. Okyere believes that both Akufo-Addo and former President Kufour should take a backseat, allowing the party to rebrand and reorganize.
He expressed surprise at Kufour’s recent partisan activities, which he believed were influenced by party loyalty rather than statesmanship.
“President Kufour, I think that he has run his race, he’s tired. I got surprised that every now and then, they hauled him to take part in partisan activities. Until recently, he voiced the view that Dr. Bawumia is the best, which I realized was partisan influence, and not a statesman’s influence kind of statement from the former president,” Dr. Okyere said.
Dr. Okyere also pointed to discontent within the NPP’s Ashanti support base, which he believed played a significant role in the party’s defeat.
He suggested that the leadership’s actions, rather than the party itself, led to the disgruntlement, which could have affected the election outcome.
“The Ashanti support base felt disgruntled by the kind of things the leadership did, not the party,” Dr. Okyere said. “That is even the main cause of the defeat of the NPP” he added
The NPP, yesterday announced plans to establish a committee to investigate their significant loss in the 2024 elections. Dr. Okyere’s comments come as the party seeks to re-strategize and regain its footing.