Dr. Theo Acheampong, a respected economist and political risk analyst, says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost the 2024 election because of its poor economic decisions—not religious factors.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfress on Saturday, May 3, he stated, “They couldn’t break the 8 because they broke the economy.”
He dismissed claims that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s religion influenced the party’s loss. “The religious argument is complete hogwash,” he said. “No matter how you analyze the data, it shows the economy caused their defeat.”
Dr. Acheampong pointed to several failed policies. These include the domestic debt exchange programme, the E-Levy, and inflation that rose above 54%.
“These are the issues that drove the elephant back into the bush. Bawumia’s religion had nothing to do with it,” he explained.
He added that the NPP lost support in almost every region—not just in Christian-dominated areas. “If they had focused on fixing the economy after COVID, they might have broken the eight,” he said.
Citing Bawumia’s own words during the campaign, Dr. Acheampong said the Vice President admitted the high cost of living and arrogance of power contributed to their loss.
He also challenged the religious argument by highlighting the NDC’s Christian candidates. “The NDC presented 215 Christian candidates, but 74 still lost,” he pointed out. “When people are hungry, they don’t care about religion. Food matters more than faith.”
According to him, the NPP’s defeat was avoidable. “They saw the signs. They needed to change course. Ghanaians reacted—and voted them out.”
Dr. Acheampong said discontent still lingers within the party. “You can feel it during Bawumia’s thank-you tour. Grassroots members and leaders are upset about the state of the country,” he said.
He noted that a deleted post by Education Minister Dr. Yaw Adutwum hinted at a possible run, suggesting internal shifts.
“The appetite for change is strong. But it must be driven by policy—not religion,” he warned. “They need to face the truth and apologise to Ghanaians.”
