President Akufo-Addo
A group identifying itself as the Alliance for Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has asserted the defeat of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the recent presidential and parliamentary polls was because of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s “intransigence.”.
The group explained the president should have heeded calls to sack his cousin Ken Ofori-Atta when he was the finance minister in 2022.
This was contained in an AFFA statement that identified the group as an NPP affiliate, dated Monday, December 16, 2024.
The group grieved Vice President and NPP flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia’s being caught up in a revolt by the Ghanaian electorate.
AFFA observed President Akufo-Addo’s resolve to construct the controversial national cathedral and unpopular policies like the e-levy and covid tax, among others, and the “impunity, selfishness, and arrogance” of government officials guaranteed the defeat of the party on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
The group noted a disconnect between the party’s headquarters and the seat of government, the Jubilee House, also.
Thus, AFFA underlined the urgent need for reforms in the NPP for a better fortune when Ghana returns to the polls in 2028.
Read the entire statement below:
BLAME NANA AKUFO-ADDO FOR NPP'S EMBARRASSING DEFEAT—ALLIANCE FOR FOOTSOLDIERS ADVOCACY (AFFA) VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
We, foot soldiers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), are deeply saddened, disenchanted, and outraged by the disappointing outcome of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
It is hard to believe how the great NPP, which was the toast of Ghanaians, could suddenly lose all its goodwill and suffer such a catastrophic defeat of 41% in presidential elections, with a paltry minority of seats (of less than 100) in Parliament.
AFFA is of the firm conviction that the 7th December verdict by the Ghanaian people was a revolt against the intransigence of President Akufo-Addo and not a vote against the NPP per se.
Dr. Bawumia is just a victim of circumstance, who, unfortunately, became the unintended casualty of the bottled anger of the masses.
President Akuto-Addo's reluctance and/or refusal to dismiss his cousin Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister (when the economy took a nosedive in 2022) despite calls by NPP MPs and Ghanaians at large was the straw that broke the camel's back. That poor sense of judgment on the President's part compounded the issues for the NPP.
Again, as to how the President could keep virtually all his appointees (ministers, deputy ministers, CEOs, MMDCEs, et al.) in the same portfolio for 8 years (with a micro reshuffle) begs belief.
Again, unpopular decisions of the president, such as the National Cathedral, DDEP, E-Levy, betting tax, and COVID Levy, coupled with arrogance on the part of some appointees, are the reasons why we lost the elections.
It's sad how the president prioritized just a handful of praise-singers in his government to the detriment of the larger party. The impunity, selfishness, and arrogance of some of these appointees and the neglect of foot soldiers cannot be overemphasized.
Kanda (Jubilee House) and Asylum Down (NPP Headquarters), even though both in the heart of Accra, were miles apart relative to mutual respect and harmonious working relationships due to the former's uncompromising character.
This defeat is an awakening call for all members of the NPP.
It is time to restructure our party, from the polling stations, constituency, region, and national levels.
Let us regroup and re-strategize and come back forcefully in 2028. We can't fail the masses.
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