Dr. Theo Acheampong, a political risk analyst and economist, attributes the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) loss in the 2024 election to economic mismanagement rather than religious dynamics. “They couldn’t break the 8 because they broke the economy,” he stated on Joy News’ Newsfile Express.

According to Dr. Acheampong, the NPP’s economic policies, including the domestic debt exchange program, the E-Levy, and soaring inflation, were major contributors to their defeat. He believes the damage was self-inflicted and that the party’s failure was foreseeable due to clear warning signs, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The economist dismissed claims that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s Muslim identity affected the election outcome, citing data that shows the NPP lost ground consistently across all regions, not just in Christian-dominated areas. He also pointed out that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presented 215 Christian candidates, with 74 losing, further debunking the religious narrative.

Dr. Acheampong emphasized that the NPP’s internal troubles stem from economic mismanagement and arrogance, with lingering anger within the party. He noted that Dr. Bawumia’s thank-you tour revealed deep-seated pain and anger among grassroots and party hierarchy members.

The emergence of new aspirants, such as Dr. Yaw Adutwum, signals a desire for change within the party. However, Dr. Acheampong stresses that this change must address the real issues that led to their defeat, rather than relying on religious scapegoating.

In his words, “When people are hungry, when inflation hits over 54%, it’s not about whether someone is Christian or Muslim. That doesn’t put food on the table.” He concludes that the NPP must own up to their mistakes and apologize to Ghanaians to regain trust.