Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has attributed the New Patriotic Party’s defeat in the 2024 elections to a series of decisions taken under the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, arguing that those choices gradually eroded public trust.
During an appearance on The Delay Show, Mr Kufuor said he was taken aback by several high-profile government initiatives, particularly the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal, and the National Cathedral project, noting that he neither participated in nor was consulted on the decisions.
According to him, the NPP’s strong showing in 2016 was rooted in the credibility built during his own presidency, which featured prominently in the party’s campaign messaging at the time.
“The 2016 campaign was driven by what my government achieved. That foundation helped secure victory,” he explained.
Mr Kufuor said the situation changed significantly after Akufo-Addo assumed office, with policy choices, especially in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns among party elders and the broader electorate.
He noted that issues surrounding the bond market, alongside the unresolved PDS controversy and the stalled National Cathedral project, created discomfort even within party ranks.
The former President expressed particular unease over the handling of the National Cathedral project, pointing to the demolition of state-owned residential buildings, including homes allocated to judges and senior public officials, for a project that remains incomplete.
“I was not part of the cabinet, so there was no consultation. I only saw properties being demolished, yet the Cathedral is still unfinished,” he said.
Reflecting on the party’s electoral trajectory, Mr Kufuor observed a steady decline in public support across three consecutive elections.
“We had a landslide in 2016, a very tight race with a hung Parliament in 2020, and a disappointing result in 2024,” he noted.
He described the trend as a clear warning that voters should never be taken for granted, urging political leaders to remain mindful that public confidence is closely tied to governance decisions.
