INTRODUCTION

Every election is different. At least, that is what's on the lips of many political analysts. And so, election 2028 will be different! The factors that influenced voter sentiments and decisions in 2024 would not be the same, in terms of effect and magnitude, albeit similar. Besides, the NPP would NOT be the political Party in government, the NDC would. The outcomes of the research conducted by the NPP and others, after election 2024 defeat, pointed at four main reasons. 

1. *EXTERNAL REASONS*

The covid pandemic, and its overriding effect of escalated public debt, subsequently affecting credit ratings downgrade, investor confidence was on the decline, exacerbated later, by rising cost of living, in the wake and aftermath of Russian War in Ukraine, were identified as the twin external shocks that changed the economic and governance trajectory of Ghana, during and after the periods of occurrence in the years 2020 and 2021 respectively. Their devastating consequences were, perhaps, more than anticipated by President Akufo-Addo when he declared "we know what to do to bring the economy back to life, what we do NOT know is how to bring people back to life."

2. *ECONOMIC REASONS* 

In response to the dire economic situations, the NPP government took some important, but unpopular decisions intended to ensure faster economic rebound.

Local currency had taken a nose dive eroding importers and traders working capital, cost of living skyrocketed, interest rates remained high affecting cost of credit, over 450,000 people had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, adding to those who lost their jobs due to the banking sector clean up, not forgetting those whose livelihoods became unbearable as a result of the ban on illegal gold mining (galamsey),  government payments faced delays - nurses and teachers allowances, payments to afforestation workers, NABCO allowance was unpaid, School Feeding Caterers payments delayed, while some contractors were chasing government for payments. Prices at fuel pump shot up. What broke the camel's back was the fact that fuel prices were increased just few days to elections. 

Contrary to government's earlier pronouncements of NOT to go to IMF, government needed to swallow the humble pie, made a very quick u-turn, as just in a week, the President directed the Finance Minister to start engagement with the IMF for an extended credit facility. Ghanaians watched the drama unfolding. 

As part of the IMF conditions, the government needed to undertake a domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP), as a necessary evil, to restore Ghana's public debt to sustainable level. This singular action affected over 800,000 government domestic bondholders, most of whom were our own (NPP Party) people. John Boadu, NPP former General Secretary, is reported to have said that the DDEP affected about 700,000 NPP people out of the about overall number of 800,000 bondholders. Again, contrary to the government's declaration of no haircut, there was haircut, and many investors lost good monies! 

In order to increase domestic revenues, government took some decisions, although unpopular, and introduced taxes; e-levy, covid levy, 10% betting tax, etc, amidst fierce public resistance. 

 *3. INTERNAL PARTY REASONS*

These issues included but not limited to the removal of delegates from constituency albums, excessive monetization, discord between and among MPs, MMDCEs, and Constituency Chairmen, late presidential primaries etc.

 *4. CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT REASONS*

In some constituencies, campaign team formation and coordination were not effective due to perceived disagreements and petty squabbles among the tripod -  Chairman, MP/PC, and MMDCEs. There were allegations of resources sent to constituencies not getting to the base for canvassers to harness votes. Allegations of some new campaign groups and influential persons whose involvement in the campaigns at the local levels kind of pushed equally loyal campaign teams away amidst feelings of mistrust and confusion.

*MISCELLANEOUS REASONS*

There were additional reasons for the NPP election defeat in election 2024 including the unsavory utterances of some political stalwarts, reshuffle debacle, perception of corruption, perception of state capture, perceived and real arrogance of power, feeling of neglect by government appointees, allegations of sale of government scholarships and job opportunities to party people, unfair distribution of infrastructure projects etc. etc.

*RELIGION AND ETHNICITY OF FLAGBEARER*

The Ashanti Regional Research report, the Rev. Prof. Mike Oquaye national research report, the international report by Konrad Adenhaur, Global Info Analytics research by Mussa Dankwa, and related reports churned out by other academic researchers in the Universities in Ghana do NOT point to the Flagbearer's religion and ethnic origin as the causes of NPP's 2024 election defeat. 

Let us examine some figures in election 2024 relative to election 2020. The NPP votes declined in all the 16 regions regions of Ghana, *except* the North East Region where the Flagbearer hails from, where votes increased by over 20,000. In Greater Accra, NPP votes fell short over 570,000, 430,000 in Ashanti Region, over 250,000 in Eastern Region and over 230,000 in Central Region, just to mention a few. In the 5 Northern Regions put together, NPP votes declined by just 164,000, a kind of votes that could have been cancelled by excess votes from only three constituencies in Ashanti Region, if we had voted. 

Indeed, some of the Akan Presidential Candidate aspirants in NPP must develop proper campaign messages in order to attract delegates votes. So far, some of them and the key officers of their campaign teams are just beating about the bush. 

*Ishaq Kyei-Brobbey*

Member, Post Election 2024 Ashanti Regional Research Team. Member, Ashanti Regional Communications Team. TESCON Patron, Kumasi Technical University.

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