The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has attributed the significant losses suffered by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 7th Ghanaian parliamentary election to widespread public dissatisfaction with the party’s governance.
ACEPA Executive Director Dr. Rasheed Draman, speaking on Citi Breakfast Show on December 12th, emphasized that the defeats weren’t primarily a reflection of individual MPs’ performance but rather a broad rejection of the NPP’s overall administration. He stated that voters used the election as a mechanism to hold the government accountable for perceived failures.
Dr. Draman explained, “The NPP Members of Parliament have become collateral damage to the anger Ghanaians felt towards the NPP administration. It wasn’t so much about individual MP performance, but the government’s performance. Ghanaians decided to punish anyone associated with the NPP, leading to the defeat of even experienced MPs.”
The December 7th elections saw a decisive victory for former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who also made substantial gains in parliament. The NDC currently holds 178 seats, compared to the NPP’s 75, with eight constituencies still awaiting final results. This represents a dramatic shift for the NPP, which held a parliamentary majority in 2016 and faced a hung parliament in 2020.
Related To This: 2024 Elections: EC Declares Former President Mahama Winner With Over 56% Votes
