NPP lost 2024 election due to bad governance, not security – Arthur Kennedy

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy, has dismissed claims that the party lost the 2024 general election because it lacked adequate security to protect its votes.

He argued that the party’s defeat was largely due to poor governance during its eight years in power, which left many Ghanaians dissatisfied with its performance.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s The Keypoint on Monday, October 12, 2026, Dr Arthur Kennedy said the NPP needed to focus on addressing the concerns of voters rather than prioritising security arrangements ahead of the 2028 general election.

“My big point is that the NPP did not lose 2024 because they didn't have enough Metro men. The fact of the matter is that they didn't have enough votes because they spent eight years governing badly and people were unhappy,” he said.

He noted that about 1.25 million NPP supporters voted for President John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 election, describing the development as a major concern the party must address.

“The important point, Musa Dankwa is sitting there, is there 1.25 million or so NPP members who went into the polling booths and decided to vote for John Mahama. It had never happened before,” he stated.

According to him, the NPP must find ways to win back those voters and reconnect with supporters who stayed away from the polls.

Dr Arthur Kennedy also questioned the argument that the NPP needed to rely on individuals to protect its votes, insisting that ensuring security during elections was the responsibility of the state.

“The president has an oath. He says he should make sure that the laws be duly executed. Security in the country ultimately is the president's job,” he said.

He stressed that every Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation, should be able to vote without fear of violence.

The former presidential aspirant further called for accountability over deaths recorded during previous elections, arguing that institutions responsible for maintaining law and order must ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Dr Arthur Kennedy also criticised the NPP’s handling of major projects, including the Agenda 111 hospital initiative, and called for greater scrutiny of decisions taken during the Akufo-Addo administration.

He argued that the party should confront the governance failures that contributed to its defeat instead of focusing on individuals he considers less central to the problem.

“If I were leading the campaign, that is one of the things I would not be emphasising,” he said when asked whether the NPP should highlight the record of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta ahead of the 2028 elections.

Dr Arthur Kennedy maintained that the party’s path back to power depended on accountability, rebuilding public trust and addressing the concerns that led voters to reject it in 2024.

NA/AM