The incumbent New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, has responded to the party’s defeat in the 2024 presidential and legislative elections.
The NPP lost by a huge margin of 1,671,093 votes to the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC’s nominee, John Dramani Mahama, was declared President-elect on Sunday, December 8, after receiving 6,328,397 votes (56.55%) over Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s 4,657,304 votes (41.61%).
Even before the official pronouncement, Dr. Bawumia accepted defeat, citing that internal collation indicated a decisive victory for the NDC.
In a statement dated December 11, 2024, Dr. Prempeh thanked the NPP’s flagbearer for the opportunity to serve as his running mate.
The statement says:
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. This was not the outcome we had hoped for as NPP members; but, we accept the Ghanaian people’s decision. We heard you clearly, Ghanaians, and we accept with humility. We’ll work with you to make things right.
I am grateful to the Lord Almighty, the giver of life, for getting me this far and for the honor of having the opportunity to serve my Party and Ghana.
He also added:
I have had long discussions with our flag bearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, about the results of the polls, and in due course, we will reflect further as a political party on the causes of our 2024 election loss.
I am grateful to His Excellency, the Vice-President, for nominating me as his running mate, and to the NPP leadership for their overwhelming support.
NAPO expressed optimism that the NPP will recover stronger, saying:
I believe in the NPP’s principles, beliefs, and traditions. As we enter a period of honest introspection and reflection on the election results, I am convinced that we will emerge stronger and rebound to regain Ghanaians’ trust, confidence, support, and affection.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has encouraged party members to stop playing blame games and instead focus on winning the 2028 general elections.
