The reverberations of the 2024 general election, which delivered a resounding defeat to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), are still fresh in the minds of its leadership and grassroots.
The just-ended parliamentary by-election in Akwatia, culminating in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) capturing a seat previously held by the NPP, further consolidates the authority of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
This outcome not only reinforces the NDC’s dominance but also deepens the crisis within the NPP, a party already beset by internal strife and factionalism at a time when leadership disputes over the 2028 presidential flagbearer are intensifying.
The NPP’s predicament is rooted in both historical and recent fractures, notably Alan Kyerematen’s high-profile departure prior to the 2024 polls.
Against this backdrop, the Akwatia defeat represents more than a lost constituency; it is a symbolic reminder of the party’s vulnerability and disarray.
Analysts suggest that unless the NPP resolves its internal disorganization, divisions, and leadership struggles, it risks remaining in opposition for decades.
The strategy adopted by its National Executive Council (NEC)—prioritizing the selection of a presidential candidate for 2028 before addressing structural and organizational weaknesses—appears ill-suited to the magnitude of the party’s crisis.
In contrast, the NDC emerges as a formidable, disciplined, and strategically adept political machine.
With unity at its core and guided by seasoned leaders such as National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia and General Secretary Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC has consolidated its national, regional, constituency, and diaspora bases. This cohesion, combined with clear electoral strategy, has elevated the party well above its rivals.
Equally significant is the performance of the Mahama administration in its first eight months in office.
The government has demonstrated both competence and commitment to its campaign promises: abolishing burdensome levies such as the E-levy, COVID-19 levy, and emissions tax; stabilizing the cedi; and eliminating tuition fees for first-year students in teacher training colleges, nursing institutions, and universities.
Moreover, the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank, a flagship initiative from the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, reflects a commitment to inclusive economic development.
President Mahama’s youth-oriented initiatives—such as the Adwumawura Programme, the National Apprenticeship Programme, and the One Million Coders Project—have further bolstered public trust and positioned his government as responsive to the needs of the next generation.
On the international stage, Mahama has elevated Ghana’s diplomatic standing, earning the nation renewed respect and visibility.
The synergy between the NDC as a political organization and the Mahama administration as a governing authority is proving to be an effective engine for national renewal.
With the economy stabilizing, investor confidence returning, and Ghanaians expressing renewed optimism, the by-election victory in Akwatia is not merely symbolic—it serves as both a validation of the government’s trajectory and a renewed mandate to deliver.
For the NDC, the task ahead is clear: remain focused, deepen its governance achievements, and avoid distractions from an embattled opposition.
For the NPP, however, the challenge is existential. Unless it can heal its internal fractures and rebuild from the grassroots, the Akwatia defeat may foreshadow a long and difficult journey in the political wilderness.
Source: Ohene Opoku Agyemang, PhD
Oopoku56@gmail.com
