The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has attributed the electoral losses suffered by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament in the December 7 elections to widespread dissatisfaction with the party’s governance.
According to Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of ACEPA, the defeats reflect a clear message from the electorate expressing frustration with the government’s perceived shortcomings.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, December 12, Dr. Draman clarified that the losses were not necessarily a reflection of the individual MPs’ performances but rather a rejection of the NPP’s overall administration. He noted that voters used the polls as an opportunity to hold the government accountable for its perceived failures.
“What I will say has accounted for this outcome is that the Members of Parliament, particularly from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, have become collateral causalities of the anger that Ghanaians harboured against the NPP administration, and so it is not very much about the performance of the MPs per se but the performance of the government.
“Ghanaians decided to punish whoever was carrying an NPP colour and some of our experienced MPs got carried away.”
Former President John Dramani Mahama was declared the winner of the December 7 presidential polls. At the same time, the NDC made substantial gains in parliamentary seats.
As of now, the NDC has secured 178 seats in Parliament, compared to the NPP’s 75 seats. Eight constituencies are yet to have their results declared, but the current tally already reflects a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the ruling party, which had previously enjoyed a majority in Parliament in 2016 and contended with a hung Parliament in 2020.
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