According to Modern Ghana, Former CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against making Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the scapegoat for the party’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
In a Facebook post on February 5, 2025, Ofosu Nkansah argued that certain individuals within the party, driven by personal ambitions, were deliberately smearing Dr. Bawumia’s reputation to advance their own leadership aspiration.
Ofosu Nkansah rejected the narrative that Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy was solely responsible for the NPP’s poor electoral performance. Instead, he insisted that the party’s governance over the past eight years was the primary reason for its loss.
“This election was a referendum on our governance. Every appointee and party official, from top to bottom, played a role in the outcome. The decision of some party members not to vote was a reflection of our own actions, not just Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy,” he stated.
He warned against internal divisions and attempts to blame one individual, urging the party to wait for official investigations into the election results rather than rushing to assign blame.
“We will resist any false narrative seeking to push the blame on Dr. Bawumia. We should all respect ourselves and wait for the party to conduct full investigations into the cause of the defeat,” he added.
His comments came after a group called Concerned Traders of the NPP in Kumasi blamed Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy for the party’s electoral defeat. The group argued that the expectation of securing northern and Islamic votes had failed, leading to significant losses in those areas.
Their spokesperson, Benjamin Ofori, described the defeat as “embarrassing and unprecedented”, insisting that the party must choose a stronger and more electable candidate if it hopes to reclaim power in 2028.
“The NPP cannot afford to stay in opposition for 12 years. We must select a leader with a proven record in governance and economic management,” Ofori emphasized.
While party members continue to debate the causes of the electoral loss, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah has urged them to avoid infighting and focus on rebuilding trust with voters. He emphasized that finger-pointing would only weaken the party further.