Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku, Founding President of the UP Tradition Institute, has described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 presidential election as the worst in Ghana’s political history since becoming a Republic in 1960, urging a data-driven introspection within the party ahead of 2028.

In a detailed statement issued to commemorate Republic Day, Dr. Kojo Opoku cautioned against overreliance on opinion polls, noting that no political party or candidate has ever won elections in Ghana based solely on poll predictions.

He pointed out that, contrary to claims suggesting candidates never win on their first attempt, historical data proves otherwise.

Kwame Nkrumah (1960), K.A. Busia (1969), Hilla Limann (1979), Jerry John Rawlings (1992), and John Mahama (2012) all won presidential elections on their first attempt.

Dr. Kojo Opoku compared the performance of Vice Presidents who contested presidential elections for the first time while in government:

Prof. John Evans Atta Mills in 2000 secured 44.54% in the first round and pushed the election into a run-off despite internal divisions and anti-Swedru Declaration sentiments.

John Dramani Mahama, after serving three years as Vice-President, won the 2012 election with 50.70% and 148 parliamentary seats.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, having served as Vice-President for eight years, polled 41.75% and won only 88 seats, with one constituency still pending.

This marked the largest vote margin defeat—over 1.7 million votes—for a ruling party candidate in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

Dr. Kojo Opoku emphasised that Bawumia’s defeat surpassed the losses of opposition figures in the early Fourth Republic:

Prof. Albert Adu Boahen lost to Rawlings in 1992 with a margin of 1.1 million votes.

John Agyekum Kufuor, in 1996, lost by 1.26 million votes but still performed better than Bawumia.

In contrast, Nana Akufo-Addo’s 2008 loss was by a mere 40,586 votes after a run-off, earning him respect and another opportunity to contest.

He said it is misleading to compare opposition party losses from 1992 and 1996 with incumbent losses such as that of Bawumia in 2024, arguing that the political contexts, opponents, and institutional maturity were significantly different.

Dr. Kojo Opoku praised Nana Akufo-Addo’s resilience and strategic consistency in bouncing back from defeats in 2008 and 2012 to claim victory in 2016.

He called on the NPP to adopt similar strategic reflection, internal unity, and strong leadership to prepare for the 2028 elections.

“Leading the NPP into elections must not be based on familiarity or blind loyalty but on electoral performance, vision, and competence,” he stressed.

He also dismissed the notion of “power transfer among rival contestants” as an electoral norm, noting that only in 2008, 2016, and 2024 did such transitions happen between previously competing candidates—Kufuor-Mills, Mahama-Akufo-Addo, and Akufo-Addo-Mahama, respectively.

As the NPP reflects on its historic 2024 defeat, Dr. Kojo Opoku advised against complacency and emotional decision-making. He encouraged party members to focus on bottom-up rebuilding, merit-based leadership, and policy reforms that resonate with the electorate.

“Real work is required. We must rise from this defeat, not with complaints or slogans, but with bold reforms and collective discipline,” he concluded.