Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, has attributed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general election to its failure to effectively communicate the challenges it faced during its tenure to the Ghanaian public.
Mr. Assafuah acknowledged that governance challenges played a significant role in diminishing the party’s popularity among voters.
While he praised President Akufo-Addo as one of Ghana’s most exceptional leaders since independence, Assafuah admitted that some decisions by the President and his appointees were poorly received by the public.
“We had governance challenges. Akufo-Addo is undoubtedly one of the best presidents this country has had since independence. However, some actions and inactions, particularly by appointees, didn’t sit well with the people of Ghana,” he said.
He further suggested that certain presidential decisions may have been misunderstood by the public, exacerbating the situation.
“I believe that the NPP and its government failed to effectively communicate the struggles the people of Ghana were facing,” he added. “We didn’t do enough to bring them along on the journey and explain the challenges.”
Mr. Assafuah also referenced promises made by former President John Mahama during the 2024 campaign, including a vow to abolish taxes like the E-Levy and Betting Tax within 120 days of assuming office. He explained that such promises reflected the complexities of governance and the difficulty in delivering them without causing fiscal imbalances.
“John Mahama pledged to cancel the E-Levy, Betting Tax, and other taxes within 120 days of taking office. While it sounds appealing, these promises are tough to fulfill without creating serious financial challenges,” Assafuah said. “It shows that these taxes are necessary, but the NPP failed to communicate this necessity to the people.”
Assafuah’s comments underscore the importance of transparent communication between government and citizens, particularly when facing economic difficulties that directly impact public trust and political outcomes.
