Former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pointed to low voter turnout among the party’s base as the key reason for its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking during the NPP’s “Thank You” tour on Wednesday, April 23, at the party’s headquarters in Accra, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that an estimated 2.1 million party supporters failed to cast their ballots—an absence he believes significantly impacted the outcome.
“Despite our tireless efforts, we experienced a painful loss. When you analyse the results, it becomes clear that the issue was internal. Many of our own supporters simply didn’t vote,” Bawumia explained.
He emphasized that the party’s loss wasn’t due to external opposition but rather from within. “If you compare the 2020 and 2024 elections, there’s a clear drop of about 2.1 million votes from our side. That’s the real reason we lost. The key to winning lies within the NPP. If we decide to vote, we will win,” he added.
The December 7, 2024, presidential election saw a close race between Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). On December 9, the Electoral Commission declared Mahama the winner, with 6,328,397 votes (56.55%) compared to Bawumia’s 4,657,304 votes (41.61%).
Mahama’s victory also saw the NDC secure a parliamentary majority, completing the party’s sweeping comeback and marking his return to the presidency.
