NPP’s first-time voter strategy delivered over 50% support for Bawumia - Salam Mustapha

Salam Mustapha has reflected on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) youth mobilisation strategy ahead of his exit as National Youth Organiser.

In his wirds, the party invested heavily in data and first-time voter engagement during the 2024 election cycle.

According to him, his team began preparations after he assumed office with about one and a half years remaining before the election, with a focus on understanding voter behaviour.

“I took office one and half year to the end of the tenure of the sitting president and we were attempting to break the eight. We gathered so much data and began to work,” he shared in a post.

He said one major area of focus was first-time voters, adding that the party conducted research to measure its performance among that group.

“One detailed work we did was first-time voters. We projected our figures and made our target,” he stated.

Salam said research materials available to the party suggested that then-candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia performed strongly among first-time voters.

“I saw two research materials that show our candidate performed over 50% amongst first-time voters. In fact, Mussa Dankwa puts his figure at 56% of first-time voters for DMB,” he said.

Beyond campaign strategy, Salam highlighted the youth wing’s role in supporting the party’s parliamentary representation, mentioning the election of the Regional Youth Organiser for the North East Region as MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga.

He described it as the first time a serving youth wing officer had achieved such a feat.

“The National Youth Wing was deliberate in its actions and support for our Regional Youth Organiser in the North East Region and today, he’s our MP,” Salam said.

He also said his team supported young people through logistics, including motorbikes, jerseys and footballs, while adding that some of the equipment was personally funded.

Salam Mustapha said although the party did not win the 2024 election, political circumstances and changing dynamics affect election outcomes.

“We may not have won the last elections, it doesn’t mean we’re not good, but dynamics and seasons are formidable opponents,” he said.