Kofi Asare, Executive Director of EduWatch, has attributed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 elections to misgovernance, stressing that the party’s downfall was entirely self-inflicted.
In a response to claims by Lawyer Ekow Vincent Assafuah that the NPP struggled to communicate its challenges to the people, Asare said the root cause of the party’s loss was its failure to address key issues such as corruption, impunity, and the environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities.
Asare highlighted the arrogance of power within the NPP, which he argued led to a lack of accountability and a disregard for the country’s pressing issues. He criticized the party’s top figures for their involvement in illegal mining, which he said destroyed the nation’s forests and water resources. Additionally, Asare pointed to the reckless borrowing practices of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, which left the country deeply in debt, and the government’s decision to push through the controversial e-levy despite widespread public opposition.
In his response, Asare also condemned the government’s suppression of free speech, noting the country’s poor press freedom ranking under the NPP’s rule. He accused the party of using its power to suppress dissent, including the prolonged detention of civilian protesters.
Asare concluded that the NPP’s primary challenge was not external, but rather its misgovernance, which he described as “man-made,” and insisted that the party’s failure to act on these issues led to its electoral defeat.