Former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has laid the blame for his party’s December 2024 loss squarely at the feet of its own base, revealing that some 2.1 million registered NPP supporters stayed home on Election Day.
Addressing party faithful during the NPP’s “Thank You” tour at its Accra headquarters on April 23, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the impressive ground campaign and policy messaging that had preceded the polls—but lamented that internal turnout shortfalls proved decisive.
“This defeat was not delivered by our opponents; it was self-inflicted,” he told the gathering. “If our 2.1 million would-be voters had turned out as they did in 2020, the result would have been different. The key to victory lies within our own ranks.”
Electoral Commission figures confirm his analysis: while NDC’s John Dramani Mahama secured 6,328,397 votes (56.55%), Dr. Bawumia mustered 4,657,304 (41.61%)—a margin partly explained by the widening gap in vote totals compared to the 2020 election.
Dr. Bawumia urged the party to treat this sobering insight as a roadmap for renewal, vowing to rebuild its grassroots machinery well ahead of the 2028 polls. “We must transform our supporter base into a mobilized force—engaged, informed, and ready to cast their ballots,” he said, pledging a comprehensive strategy overhaul to ensure no NPP member is left behind at the next election.
As the NPP charts its path to recovery, the spotlight now falls on how effectively it can translate introspection into action—and whether it can turn the lesson of 2024’s low turnout into the foundation for future success.
