The Alliance for Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has held President Nana Akufo-Addo responsible for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) humiliating loss in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Monday, December 16, 2024, the group expressed anger and disappointment at the NPP’s performance, describing the defeat as “catastrophic” The party secured only 41% of the presidential vote and less than 100 parliamentary seats.
“We, footsoldiers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), are deeply saddened, disenchanted, and outraged by the disappointing outcome of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections,” AFFA stated.
The group attributed the loss to what it described as poor judgment by President Akufo-Addo, particularly his decision to retain Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta despite widespread calls for his dismissal in the wake of economic challenges in 2022.
“The President’s reluctance and/or refusal to dismiss his cousin Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister…was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” the statement read.
AFFA also criticized the President for keeping the majority of his appointees in the same positions for eight years with minimal reshuffles, arguing that this bred complacency and disconnected the government from the needs of the grassroots.
“How the President could keep virtually all his appointees—Ministers, Deputy Ministers, CEOs, MMDCEs—in the same portfolio for eight years (with micro reshuffles) begs belief,” AFFA said.
The group further cited unpopular policies such as the E-Levy, Betting Tax, Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), and the National Cathedral project as factors that alienated Ghanaians from the party.
“The impunity, selfishness, and arrogance of some of these appointees; and the neglect of footsoldiers cannot be overemphasized,” AFFA added.
In its statement, AFFA defended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, calling him “a victim of circumstance” who bore the brunt of voter anger directed at the President’s administration.
AFFA concluded with a call for a complete overhaul of the party’s structure, urging members to learn from the defeat and work toward rebuilding for 2028.
“This defeat is an awakening call for all members of the NPP. It is time to restructure our party from the polling stations, constituency, region, and national levels. Let us re-group and re-strategize, and come back forcefully in 2028,” the statement concluded.
The group however remains optimistic about the NPP’s future.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
