 defeat in the 2024 general elections, describing such suggestions as unfounded and unsupported by evidence.){kind=link}
Former Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has dismissed claims that religion or ethnicity played a role in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections, describing such suggestions as unfounded and unsupported by evidence.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said internal post-election assessments and independent inquiries revealed no indication that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s religious background influenced voter behavior or contributed to the party’s loss.
“The enquiry we did in the Ashanti region did not produce that; it is not one of the factors,” he explained.
“In fact, those two questions — ethnicity and religion — were asked of the people everywhere in the Ashanti region. The Oquaye Committee also asked similar questions, and the conclusions don’t support this at all. And yet, people are trying to inject that into the discussion.”
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed that the NPP’s internal post-election review, led by senior party figures and academics, thoroughly examined voter sentiment across various regions. The findings, he said, pointed to governance fatigue, economic hardship, and campaign strategy weaknesses as key determinants of the party’s electoral performance — not religion or ethnicity.
“We must reflect on our performance, yes, but let’s do so with honesty,” he stated. “Religion and ethnicity were not determinants of the outcome.”
The comments come amid ongoing debate within the NPP over the factors that led to its 2024 electoral defeat. Some critics have claimed that the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, faced resistance due to being Muslim and from northern Ghana, a claim party insiders like Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu have strongly rejected.
The Oquaye Committee, established to assess the party’s performance after the election, is expected to submit its final report by the end of 2025. Early indications, however, suggest that organizational weaknesses, communication lapses, and voter dissatisfaction with the economy played more significant roles than any identity-based factors.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged party members to focus on rebuilding unity and crafting a clear vision for the future rather than indulging in divisive narratives.
“If we allow religion or ethnicity to dominate our internal discourse, we’ll lose sight of what really matters — regaining the trust of Ghanaians,” he cautioned.