Spending $58m on National Cathedral contributed to our defeat – Bawumia

Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has partly attributed the party’s loss in the 2024 general election to the controversy surrounding the National Cathedral project and a late fuel price increase.

Speaking in Takoradi at the start of a nationwide Thank You Tour, Dr. Bawumia responded to reports allegedly leaking from the Mike Oquaye Committee findings, which suggested that his perceived religious “flirting” contributed to the party’s electoral defeat.

Dr. Bawumia dismissed the claim, instead pointing to tangible economic and governance issues.

According to him, the uncompleted National Cathedral project, which had already consumed $58 million in public funds, significantly eroded public trust and fuelled voter dissatisfaction.

He also cited the rise in fuel prices just three days before the election as another major factor that turned voters against the NPP, insisting that religion or tribal affiliations were not to blame for the loss.

Dr. Bawumia’s remarks come at a time when internal party discussions are intensifying around the causes of the 2024 electoral outcome, with many stakeholders pushing for a candid review to reposition the NPP for the future.

“The national cathedral we were not able to complete after $58 million was sunk into into it, caused a lot of rage in the public,” he stated.

“Also, three days before the election day, the price of fuel went up. When I heard it, I thought it was a joke. The drivers were angry at us. So, people went to vote against us with anger. That is why we put together the Mike Oquaye Committee to produce a report on why we lost. I am happy that there is no religious factor, and tribal factor that caused our defeat,” he stated.