Kufuor Says NPP’s 2024 Loss Signals Governance Failure

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor warned that the New Patriotic Party’s loss in the 2024 general elections should serve as a stark reminder that Ghanaian voters will not tolerate misgovernance.

Speaking on The Delay Show, Kufuor linked the defeat to controversial decisions under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo‑Addo, notably the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, the National Cathedral project and the failed Power Distribution Services concession.

“The Ghanaian electorate cannot be taken for granted. Politicians must learn from this,” the former president said, stressing that the electorate’s verdict reflects the consequences of policy choices.

Kufuor noted that the NPP’s sweeping victory in 2016 was heavily anchored on the legacy of his own administration, which shaped the party’s messaging at the time. He added that the government’s trajectory shifted after Akufo‑Addo assumed office.

“Before the 2016 election that brought Akufo‑Addo to power, the campaign was anchored on my achievements. They played a major role in the victory,” Kufuor explained. “The government started well, but things shifted after he assumed office.”

He argued that post‑COVID‑19 decisions deepened public dissatisfaction, citing a troubled bond market, setbacks surrounding the PDS agreement and persistent concerns over the National Cathedral.

Kufuor expressed worry about the use of state resources for the Cathedral, saying he was not consulted during planning and only learned of construction after it had begun.

He also questioned the demolition of important state buildings, including residences for judges and officials, for a project that remains unfinished.

Reflecting on the party’s electoral fortunes, Kufuor contrasted the massive win in 2016, the tight 2020 election that produced a hung Parliament, and the decisive defeat in 2024.

“We won massively in 2016. The 2020 elections were tight and gave us a hung Parliament, and 2024 was something else altogether,” he remarked.

The former president concluded that the trend sends a clear message: political leaders must uphold discipline, transparency and sensitivity to public expectations if they hope to retain the confidence of the electorate.

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