The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has commenced the disbursement of second-semester loans to tertiary students across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, Saajida Shiraz, announced that as of Tuesday, July 1, loans have been successfully paid to 19,703 tertiary students, with priority given to students in Private Tertiary Institutions, whose academic calendar is further advanced than their counterparts in public institutions.
This development comes ahead of the official launch of the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative, scheduled for Friday, 4th July.
Saajida Shiraz
The initiative is expected to mark a major shift in the government’s approach to tertiary education financing.
“The days when the Trust Fund approved students for loans it couldn’t disburse are over,” Ms Shiraz stated. “The revamped SLTF is now working diligently each day to fulfil its mandate of providing timely financial support to students.”
The latest disbursement signals a renewed commitment by the SLTF to ensure consistent, fair, and efficient access to student funding, in line with broader efforts to promote educational equity and academic continuity.Source: Albert Kuzor
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the Volta Economic Corridor as the flagship intervention under his government’s ambitious 24-Hour Economy policy, promising a transformative effort to unlock the vast agricultural, industrial, and environmental potential of the Volta Lake and its surrounding regions.
Speaking at the official launch of the 24-Hour Economy programme in Accra on July 2, President Mahama said the corridor would reignite the original vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, who saw the Volta project not just as a source of hydroelectric power, but as the foundation for a broader agro-industrial revolution.
President John Mahama
“Our flagship intervention is the Volta Economic Corridor. A transformation effort that will unlock the economic and environmental potential of the Volta Lake and its surrounding lands,” President Mahama said.
He lamented that the agricultural and agribusiness components of Nkrumah’s original Akosombo vision were abandoned over the years, but stressed that his government is now determined to bring that dream back to life.
“Today, we will recreate Kwame Nkrumah’s dream. Today, his dream comes alive again,” he declared.
As part of the corridor initiative, Mahama outlined several major projects under key sub-programmes of the 24-Hour Economy agenda:
Under Grow 24, over 2 million hectares of land will be irrigated for intensive agriculture.
Under Make 24, the government will establish agro-industrial parks focusing on textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.
Under Show 24, tourism clusters will be developed along the Volta Lake to boost hospitality and heritage-based economic activity.
Under Connect 24, the lake will be transformed into a central transport corridor, linking the North to the South and East to the West.Source:William Narh
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced that it will conduct a rerun of the Parliamentary Election in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency following the dispute over the authenticity of election results from the December 7, 2024, General Election.
In a press release dated July 2, and signed by Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman of Operations at the EC, the Commission stated that the decision was reached after a follow-up meeting with representatives of the two main political parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
The dispute stems from concerns raised by the NDC over the use of scanned Pink Sheets from 37 polling stations, which the party claims were provided by the NPP and lacked sufficient verification. The NDC insisted that the entire election be rerun in those 37 stations.
Mrs.Jean Mensah,EC chairperson
On the other hand, the NPP maintained that only three outstanding polling station results needed to be collated to finalize the outcome, arguing that the scanned Pink Sheets had already been verified by NDC agents during the process.
The EC clarified that the issue at hand revolves around the fact that scanned Pink Sheets—documents used to record polling station-level results—were used in the collation after physical copies were destroyed when political party supporters stormed the collation centre.
Following extensive deliberations, the EC has resolved to rerun the election in 19 of the 37 polling stations, citing that although the scanned results from these stations were approved by both party agents, they lacked verification by the Presiding Officers. The remaining 18 scanned results, the Commission noted, were verified by both the agents and the Presiding Officers and will therefore not be subject to a rerun.
The rerun is scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025, and the Commission has assured the public of its commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity throughout the process. The Ghana Police Service has been called upon to provide adequate security to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.Source:Leticia Osei
A delegation from the Kumasi-unit of Channel 1 Television paid a courtesy call on Kofi Adu Domfeh, the newly-elected Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), expressing optimism for a transformative regime under his leadership.
Led by the Middle Belt Bureau Chief of Channel 1 TV, Hafiz Tijani, the team congratulated the chairman-elect and pledged collaboration with his administration.
Kofi Adu Domfeh(middle) in a group photograph with the delegation
The seasoned environmental journalist and News Editor with the Multimedia Group, Kofi Adu Domfeh, was elected on June 30, 2025, to lead the GJA Ashanti Chapter, following a campaign centered on professional integrity, ethical practice, and inclusivity.
A key concern raised during the visit was the need to expand the GJA’s membership database to include outstanding journalists in the Ashanti Region.
Chairman-elect, Kofi Adu Domfeh, welcoming the team from Channel 1 TV, assured to prioritize membership drive, ensuring a more inclusive and digitized process to strengthen the association’s reach and impact.
He reaffirmed the commitment to upholding journalistic integrity and accountability in the region.
“It’s an honor to receive this visitation. Working for the people is very vital. The association has remarkable members who deserve recognition, and expanding our membership base through a streamlined, digitized process is a priority.” he said.
The visit, which took place at Luv Fm/Nhyira Fm, thread in discussions to explore areas of collaboration to advance the practice of journalism in the Ashanti Region.
Middle Belt Bureau Chief of Channel 1 TV, Hafiz Tijani, expressed confidence in Domfeh’s leadership, assuring of collaboration as leverage to strengthen the association in the region.
“Many associations rely on us to voice their concerns, and it’s time we address our own,” Tijani stated. “We believe in your competence to reform our stagnated association, and your administration can count on our support.”
General Secretary-elect, Beatrice Spio-Garbrah, joining virtually, expressed gratitude for Channel 1’s pledged cooperation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta Kwamang Beposo, Hon. Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim, has accused Amansan TV of spreading falsehood about her on their platform.
The former Deputy Health Minister, alleges that the station has displayed high bias against her office, which she vows to resist.
According to the MP, Amansan TV discussed sanitary conditions in some communities within her constituency on their program, “Asem Yi Dika,” on Tuesday, in a way that was inciting people against her.
She claims that, the television firm broadcast a one-sided story without seeking her side of the story, despite mentioning her name with accusing fingers .
Hon. Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim during one of her usual monitoring of the sanitary situations
Speaking to OTEC News Reporter, Kwame Agyenim Boateng, the MP stated that she will be forced to sue the TV station if they continue to spread falsehood about her.
She countered the report that she has taken less measures on sanitary conditions in the area, stating that she has led the evacuation of over eight different heaps of rubbish at dump sites in communities within the constituency namely Abonkosu, Bronkrong, Kwamang, Beposo, Anansu (Appiakrom), Atonsu and others.
The MP noted that, these dumpsites had lasted not less than 50 years and added that her office has done a lot to improve sanitation in the constituency.
While she is not against scrutiny, she expects media firms to engage in constructive criticism instead of political gimmicks.
Meanwhile Hon. Agyei Boateng, aka Dada, the Assembly Member for Kruwi Abonkosu,has reacted to the incident, saying it’s mere fabricated purported to tarnish the image of Hon.Adelaide Ntim
He added “no MP in the history of Nsuta Kwamang Beposo Constituency”, has dealt with sanitation issues more than Hon.Adelaide.
He, therefore, called on the public to treat the broadcast with the content it deserves.
The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana has called on the Government of Ghana to include private hospitals in the nationwide posting of nurses and other health professionals, citing growing concerns over unequal treatment in the health sector.
Speaking to the media during their mid-year general meeting and the official commissioning of their newly built ultramodern secretariat at Asokwa in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, Dr. Francis Fosu, described the situation as both unfair and worrying.
According to Dr. Fosu, the government consistently posts health workers only to public hospitals, neglecting private health facilities that also play a significant role in the country’s healthcare delivery. He emphasised that private facilities form a vital part of the national health infrastructure and should, therefore, not be left out in the distribution of critical human resources.
“It is very sad and worrying that while government health facilities are being given priority in the posting of nurses and other staffs, private health institutions—which contribute immensely to healthcare delivery in Ghana—are being neglected. We are calling on the government to correct this imbalance,” he said.
Dr. Fosu further noted that this disparity hampers the ability of private hospitals to deliver quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities where private clinics often fill essential gaps in public healthcare.
In addition to the issue of postings, Dr. Fosu highlighted another major challenge confronting private healthcare providers—the high cost of medicines in comparison to the reimbursement rates provided by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He explained that the rising market prices of drugs far exceed what NHIS pays back to private facilities, resulting in financial strain and potential service limitations.
“We are appealing to the government to review the NHIS pricing structure. In most cases, the medicines we buy are far more expensive than what the NHIS pays us. This situation is unsustainable and needs urgent government attention,” he added.
Present at the meeting was the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, who delivered the keynote address. He emphasised the need for unity across both public and private sectors of healthcare delivery, insisting that all health professionals are working towards the same goal.
“We are not public hospitals or private hospitals. We are all health workers delivering the same services for the benefit of Ghanaians. What we need is unity of purpose, especially in the area of public health prevention,” Dr. Boateng stated.
The incumbent Chairman for the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Sumaila Boakye, has received an overwhelming endorsement with regard to the union’s indefinite suspended election, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 1st July 2025.
Some scenes from Ashanti Regional Secretariat of GPRTU
The national executives and the TUC leadership were supposed to supervise the election in line with their constitution. However, an injunction filed by three members of the Takoradi-Elubo branch of the union against the candidature of Sumaila Boakye, who is seeking re-election, received an overwhelming shout of “No Sumaila Boakye, no vote” by the delegates.
Sumaila Boakye (2nd left) responding to cheers from the delegates after the suspension of the elections
As a result, the GPRTU national leadership and the TUC executives agreed to put the elections on hold indefinitely.
“We’ve worked with Somaila Boakye and realised he is faithful, hard-working and results-oriented. All that majority of the delegates are saying is simple: No Somaila Boakye, no vote in Ashanti GPRTU. He has settled all the outstanding debts he came to inherit and he has brought hope to the Ashanti Regional branch of GPRTU,” they pointed out.
“The leadership should do the necessary thing to resolve whatever issues are available to allow him to contest; for 10 to 20 years, he (Sumaila Boakye) will continue to remain our chairman,” they added.
Sumaila Boakye was expected to battle it out with one Nana Kwame Afriyie for the Ashanti Regional chairmanship post.
There was near confusion and confrontation at the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of GPRTU of TUC at Kwame Antwi office in Kumasi over a petition seeking the removal of the incumbent chairman from the postponed election.
Mr. Samuel Addai, Ashanti Regional Vice-Chairman speaking to the media
Speaking to journalists on why the election was put on hold at the ninth-hour, Mr. Samuel Addai, Ashanti Regional Vice-Chairman of the Union, explained that they had information in the late hours of Monday 30th June 2025, from three members of the Takoradi-Elubo branch of the union, who had gone to court to stop the incumbent from contesting.
As a result, all the stakeholders decided to put the election on hold to allow Chairman Sumaila Boakye to respond to the issue in court.
“The accusers claim they have some accountability issues with him to address, hence their decision,” he explained.
Over-reliance on Opinion Polls Always Keep Candidates or Parties in Opposition Forever
Facts about Presidential Elections in Ghana since 1960*
Ahead of becoming a Republic, the first presidential election in Ghana was held on 27th April 1960.
Nkrumah won his first attempt in 1960 with 89.07%.
Busia won his first attempt in 1969 with 58.33%
Limann won his first attempt in 1979 with 61.98% after run-off.
Rawlings won his first attempt in 1992 with 58.40%.
John Mahama won his first attempt in 2012 with 50.70%.
Therefore, it is absolutely FALSE to say that no candidate has won the presidential elections in Ghana on the first attempt.
Dr.Razak KoJo Opoku
Performance of Vice-Presidents Who contested for the First Time with an Incumbent Government
Atta Mills contested the 2000 presidential election when NDC was in government. He polled 44.54% in the 1st round and 43.10% after the run-off with Parliamentary Seats of 92 out of 200.
NPP had 99 Parliamentary seats.
Professor Atta Mills was the first sitting Vice-President to contest presidential election in Ghana and he did very well pushing the election to 2nd round and eventually securing 92 Parliamentary Seats, competing fairly against the 99 Parliamentary Seats of NPP won in 2000 general election.
Atta Mills did extremely well for the NDC in the 2000 presidential election because:
(a). NDC had been in power for 8 years.
(b). Mills was a Vice-President to Rawlings for ONLY one term, from 1996 to 2000.
(c). NDC was fully characterized by heavy divisions, apathy, and exiting of several leaders because of the unpopular decision of the Swedru Declaration by Rawlings.
John Mahama contested the 2012 presidential election when NDC had been in government for one term from 2009-2012, and he won convincingly with 50.70% and 148 Parliamentary Seats out of 275 Seats, while NPP managed to secure 122 Parliamentary seats.
John Mahama was the second sitting Vice-President to have contested a presidential election and won on his first attempt.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the third sitting Vice-President to have contested a presidential election in 2024 after Mills and John Mahama respectively in 2000 and 2012.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia polled 41.75% (275 out of 276 declared Constituencies) and 88 Parliamentary Seats with Ablekuma North Constituency still pending. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia served as a sitting Vice-President for 8years. He was also well marketed for 16years since 2008 unlike Professor Atta Mills who was a sitting Vice-President for 4years(1996-2000) and marketed as a Running-Mate for only 4years from 1996 to 2000, and John Mahama who was sitting Vice-President for 3years(2009-2012) and marketed as a Running-Mate for 4years(2008-2012).
However, John Mahama polled 56.42%(275 out of 276 declared Constituencies) with an unprecedented and historic parliamentary seats of 183 with Ablekuma North still pending.
Would the outcome of Ablekuma North move Mahama to 57% and Dr. Bawumia to 38.2% as alleged by some critics? We would wait for that official determination by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
From the aforementioned data, it is very authoritative and essentially profound to conclude that both Professor Atta Mills, and John Mahama PERFORMED BETTER than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in presidential elections as sitting Vice-Presidents:
Mills lost 2000 and 2004 presidential elections with respective votes difference of 881,139 and 673, 706.
John Mahama lost 2016 and 2020 presidential elections with respective votes difference of 984,570 and 517,405.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia lost the 2024 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 714,179(275 out of 276 Declared Constituencies).
This is the first time a ruling Party has lost with such margin since 1960.
Even if you compared the result of 1, 714,179 to the performance of NPP in 1992 and 1996, it means that in terms of REAL FIGURES (not percentages):
Professor Albert Adu Boahen performed better in 1992 than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024.
Albert Adu Boahen in 1992 lost with a vote difference of 1,118, 371, far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714,706(that is, a difference of 595, 808 votes).
John Agyekum Kufuor performed better in 1996 than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024.
John Agyekum Kufuor in 1996 lost with a vote difference of 1, 264, 880, far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714,179(that is, a difference of 449, 299 votes).
For NPP to win or improve its performance in 2028, a lot of proper thinking, strategies, absolute unity and right leadership from Bottom-Top are required. It should be about the interest of the Party at the detriment of individual presidential ambitions.
Performance of Candidates Who Contested for the First Time as Opposition Leaders
Professor Albert Adu Boahen contested in 1992 Presidential election with 30.29% and 0 Parliamentary Seats.
Due to the dissatisfaction with ballot rigging in the 1992 presidential election, Professor Adu Boahen and NPP boycotted the 1992 Parliamentary election.
Professor Albert Adu Boahen was defeated by John Agyekum Kufuor in the presidential primary of NPP ahead of 1996 general election largely due to his poor performance of 30.29% and 0 Parliamentary Seats in 1992.
John Agyekum Kufuor contested the 1996 presidential election with 39.67%(approximately 40%) and 61 Parliamentary Seats out of 200 Seats.
John Agyekum Kufuor was able to defeat Nana Akufo-Addo and others in 1998 ahead of 2000 general election largely due to his significant average performance of 39.67% and 61 Parliamentary Seats in 1996.
Therefore, it is absolutely ridiculous and highly unprofessional to compare ‘Opposition Defeat’ Data( 1992 & 1996) in percentage preference to ‘Incumbent Defeat’ Data (2024) in percentage preference.
Using the percentage data of 2024 defeat of NPP(party in government) to correlate with the percentage defeat data of NPP in 1992(party in opposition for 20years after Kofi Abrefa Busia was overthrown in a military coup in 1972), and 1996 (party in opposition for 24years after Kofi Abrefa Busia was overthrown in a military coup in 1972) is a very dishonest way of matching data.
Again, candidates, Albert Adu Boahen and John Agyekum Kufuor contested against Jerry John Rawlings, a military President of 11years who had just rebranded himself as a Civilian Democrat prior to 1992 & 1996 elections coupled with an inexperienced Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Performance of Candidate Who Contested the First Time Without Being a Sitting Vice-President
Nana Akufo-Addo is the only candidate who has contested a presidential election for the first time without being a sitting President unlike Rawlings in 1992, and a sitting Vice-President unlike Professor Mills in 2000, John Mahama in 2012, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024, though his Party was in government for 8 years.
Nana Akufo-Addo contested the 2008 presidential election with 49.13% in the first round, and 49.77% after run-offs. Nana Akufo-Addo lost the 2008 general election with a difference of ONLY 40,586 votes. This is a defeat but with dignity, glory, and honour for the Elephant Family.
However, Professor Mills in 2000, lost the general election with a difference of 881,139 votes.
Akufo-Addo had 107 Parliamentary Seats out of 230 Seats, while NDC had 116 Seats after 2008 general election.
As an opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo polled 47.74% in 2012 presidential election with Parliamentary Seats of 122 out of 275 Seats. Mahama had 50.70% with 148 seats. This was a highly
competitive election in 2012.
Nana Akufo-Addo once again lost the 2012 presidential election with a difference of 325,863 votes and 5-4 majority ruling by Supreme Court.
Despite, the narrow defeats of Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008 and 2012 general elections, Nana Akufo-Addo was subjected to internal presidential primaries in 2010 and 2014 respectively, ahead of the 2012 and 2016 general elections.
In 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo had 53.72% with 169 Parliamentary Seats out of 275 Seats. John Mahama had 44.53% with 106 Parliamentary Seats.
Nana Akufo-Addo was able to represent NPP thrice based on his electoral performances in 2008 & 2012.
Nana Akufo-Addo defeated John Mahama in 2016 with a difference of 984,570 votes.
In 2020, Nana Akufo-Addo had 51.30%. with 137 Parliamentary Seats out of 275. John Mahama had 47.36% with 137 Parliamentary Seats.
Nana Akufo-Addo further defeated John Mahama in 2020 with a difference of 517,405 votes.
Based on electoral performances, it is, therefore, 100% Factual and Accurate to conclude
2024 general election defeat of NPP is the WORST RESULT ever witnessed since Ghana becoming a Republic in 1960.
Conclusion
Some people have argued that there is a transfer of leadership among rival contestants. That is absolutely a half-truth because:
1. Rawlings contested with Adu Boahen in 1992 but handed over to Kufuor in 2001. Rawlings contested against both Adu Boahen and Kufuor in 1992 and 1996 respectively.
Atta Mills contested against Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008 but unfortunately handed over to John Mahama in 2012.
Since 1992, the ONLY periods that rival candidates transferred power among themselves were seen in:
(a). 2008, from Kufuor to Mills after competing with each other for 2000 & 2024 presidential elections.
(b). 2016, from Mahama to Akufo-Addo after competing with each other for 2012 & 2016 presidential elections.
(c) 2024, from Akufo-Addo to Mahama after competing with each for 2012 and 2020 presidential elections.
The realistic argument is that, in 2028, should John Mahama compete with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for Mahama to hand over power to Dr. Bawumia after the contest?
Leading NPP or NDC to a general election comes with Internal Contest. Presidential candidates who performed even better in previous elections were subjected to internal presidential primaries.
Based on Data, it is not about Familiarity of the face of the Presidential Candidate or the number of times a Candidate is presented for an election, it is rather about the ELECTORAL PERFORMANCE of the Candidate in every election cycle that matters.
NPP, we have a lot of work to do to bounce back stronger for 2028 and beyond. It is not about emotions and blind loyalty to aspirants. Real work is required for our comeback in 2028.
….Signed….
Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku
Founding President of UP Tradition Institute.Over-reliance on Opinion Polls Always Keep Candidates or Parties in Opposition Forever: Facts about Presidential Elections in Ghana since 1960
Ahead of becoming a Republic, the first presidential election in Ghana was held on 27th April 1960.
Nkrumah won his first attempt in 1960 with 89.07%.
Busia won his first attempt in 1969 with 58.33%
Limann won his first attempt in 1979 with 61.98% after run-off.
Rawlings won his first attempt in 1992 with 58.40%.
John Mahama won his first attempt in 2012 with 50.70%.
Therefore, it is absolutely FALSE to say that no candidate has won the presidential elections in Ghana on the first attempt.
Performance of Vice-Presidents Who contested for the First Time with an Incumbent Government
Atta Mills contested the 2000 presidential election when NDC was in government. He polled 44.54% in the 1st round and 43.10% after the run-off with Parliamentary Seats of 92 out of 200.
NPP had 99 Parliamentary seats.
Professor Atta Mills was the first sitting Vice-President to contest presidential election in Ghana and he did very well pushing the election to 2nd round and eventually securing 92 Parliamentary Seats, competing fairly against the 99 Parliamentary Seats of NPP won in 2000 general election.
Atta Mills did extremely well for the NDC in the 2000 presidential election because:
(a). NDC had been in power for 8 years.
(b). Mills was a Vice-President to Rawlings for ONLY one term, from 1996 to 2000.
(c). NDC was fully characterized by heavy divisions, apathy, and exiting of several leaders because of the unpopular decision of the Swedru Declaration by Rawlings.
John Mahama contested the 2012 presidential election when NDC had been in government for one term from 2009-2012, and he won convincingly with 50.70% and 148 Parliamentary Seats out of 275 Seats, while NPP managed to secure 122 Parliamentary seats.
John Mahama was the second sitting Vice-President to have contested a presidential election and won on his first attempt.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the third sitting Vice-President to have contested a presidential election in 2024 after Mills and John Mahama respectively in 2000 and 2012.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia polled 41.75% (275 out of 276 declared Constituencies) and 88 Parliamentary Seats with Ablekuma North Constituency still pending. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia served as a sitting Vice-President for 8years. He was also well marketed for 16years since 2008 unlike Professor Atta Mills who was a sitting Vice-President for 4years(1996-2000) and marketed as a Running-Mate for only 4years from 1996 to 2000, and John Mahama who was sitting Vice-President for 3years(2009-2012) and marketed as a Running-Mate for 4years(2008-2012).
However, John Mahama polled 56.42%(275 out of 276 declared Constituencies) with an unprecedented and historic parliamentary seats of 183 with Ablekuma North still pending.
Would the outcome of Ablekuma North move Mahama to 57% and Dr. Bawumia to 38.2% as alleged by some critics? We would wait for that official determination by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
From the aforementioned data, it is very authoritative and essentially profound to conclude that both Professor Atta Mills, and John Mahama PERFORMED BETTER than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in presidential elections as sitting Vice-Presidents:
Mills lost 2000 and 2004 presidential elections with respective votes difference of 881,139 and 673, 706.
John Mahama lost 2016 and 2020 presidential elections with respective votes difference of 984,570 and 517,405.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia lost the 2024 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 714,179(275 out of 276 Declared Constituencies).
This is the first time a ruling Party has lost with such margin since 1960.
Even if you compared the result of 1, 714,179 to the performance of NPP in 1992 and 1996, it means that in terms of REAL FIGURES (not percentages):
Professor Albert Adu Boahen performed better in 1992 than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024.
Albert Adu Boahen in 1992 lost with a vote difference of 1,118, 371, far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714,706(that is, a difference of 595, 808 votes).
John Agyekum Kufuor performed better in 1996 than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024.
John Agyekum Kufuor in 1996 lost with a vote difference of 1, 264, 880, far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714,179(that is, a difference of 449, 299 votes).
For NPP to win or improve its performance in 2028, a lot of proper thinking, strategies, absolute unity and right leadership from Bottom-Top are required. It should be about the interest of the Party at the detriment of individual presidential ambitions.
Performance of Candidates Who Contested for the First Time as Opposition Leaders
Professor Albert Adu Boahen contested in 1992 Presidential election with 30.29% and 0 Parliamentary Seats.
Due to the dissatisfaction with ballot rigging in the 1992 presidential election, Professor Adu Boahen and NPP boycotted the 1992 Parliamentary election.
Professor Albert Adu Boahen was defeated by John Agyekum Kufuor in the presidential primary of NPP ahead of 1996 general election largely due to his poor performance of 30.29% and 0 Parliamentary Seats in 1992.
John Agyekum Kufuor contested the 1996 presidential election with 39.67%(approximately 40%) and 61 Parliamentary Seats out of 200 Seats.
John Agyekum Kufuor was able to defeat Nana Akufo-Addo and others in 1998 ahead of 2000 general election largely due to his significant average performance of 39.67% and 61 Parliamentary Seats in 1996.
Therefore, it is absolutely ridiculous and highly unprofessional to compare ‘Opposition Defeat’ Data( 1992 & 1996) in percentage preference to ‘Incumbent Defeat’ Data (2024) in percentage preference.
Using the percentage data of 2024 defeat of NPP(party in government) to correlate with the percentage defeat data of NPP in 1992(party in opposition for 20years after Kofi Abrefa Busia was overthrown in a military coup in 1972), and 1996 (party in opposition for 24years after Kofi Abrefa Busia was overthrown in a military coup in 1972) is a very dishonest way of matching data.
Again, candidates, Albert Adu Boahen and John Agyekum Kufuor contested against Jerry John Rawlings, a military President of 11years who had just rebranded himself as a Civilian Democrat prior to 1992 & 1996 elections coupled with an inexperienced Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Performance of Candidate Who Contested the First Time Without Being a Sitting Vice-President
Nana Akufo-Addo is the only candidate who has contested a presidential election for the first time without being a sitting President unlike Rawlings in 1992, and a sitting Vice-President unlike Professor Mills in 2000, John Mahama in 2012, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024, though his Party was in government for 8 years.
Nana Akufo-Addo contested the 2008 presidential election with 49.13% in the first round, and 49.77% after run-offs. Nana Akufo-Addo lost the 2008 general election with a difference of ONLY 40,586 votes. This is a defeat but with dignity, glory, and honour for the Elephant Family.
However, Professor Mills in 2000, lost the general election with a difference of 881,139 votes.
Akufo-Addo had 107 Parliamentary Seats out of 230 Seats, while NDC had 116 Seats after 2008 general election.
As an opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo polled 47.74% in 2012 presidential election with Parliamentary Seats of 122 out of 275 Seats. Mahama had 50.70% with 148 seats. This was a highly
competitive election in 2012.
Nana Akufo-Addo once again lost the 2012 presidential election with a difference of 325,863 votes and 5-4 majority ruling by Supreme Court.
Despite, the narrow defeats of Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008 and 2012 general elections, Nana Akufo-Addo was subjected to internal presidential primaries in 2010 and 2014 respectively, ahead of the 2012 and 2016 general elections.
In 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo had 53.72% with 169 Parliamentary Seats out of 275 Seats. John Mahama had 44.53% with 106 Parliamentary Seats.
Nana Akufo-Addo was able to represent NPP thrice based on his electoral performances in 2008 & 2012.
Nana Akufo-Addo defeated John Mahama in 2016 with a difference of 984,570 votes.
In 2020, Nana Akufo-Addo had 51.30%. with 137 Parliamentary Seats out of 275. John Mahama had 47.36% with 137 Parliamentary Seats.
Nana Akufo-Addo further defeated John Mahama in 2020 with a difference of 517,405 votes.
Based on electoral performances, it is, therefore, 100% Factual and Accurate to conclude
2024 general election defeat of NPP is the WORST RESULT ever witnessed since Ghana becoming a Republic in 1960.
Conclusion
Some people have argued that there is a transfer of leadership among rival contestants. That is absolutely a half-truth because:
1. Rawlings contested with Adu Boahen in 1992 but handed over to Kufuor in 2001. Rawlings contested against both Adu Boahen and Kufuor in 1992 and 1996 respectively.
Atta Mills contested against Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008 but unfortunately handed over to John Mahama in 2012.
Since 1992, the ONLY periods that rival candidates transferred power among themselves were seen in:
(a). 2008, from Kufuor to Mills after competing with each other for 2000 & 2024 presidential elections.
(b). 2016, from Mahama to Akufo-Addo after competing with each other for 2012 & 2016 presidential elections.
(c) 2024, from Akufo-Addo to Mahama after competing with each for 2012 and 2020 presidential elections.
The realistic argument is that, in 2028, should John Mahama compete with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for Mahama to hand over power to Dr. Bawumia after the contest?
Leading NPP or NDC to a general election comes with Internal Contest. Presidential candidates who performed even better in previous elections were subjected to internal presidential primaries.
Based on Data, it is not about Familiarity of the face of the Presidential Candidate or the number of times a Candidate is presented for an election, it is rather about the ELECTORAL PERFORMANCE of the Candidate in every election cycle that matters.
NPP, we have a lot of work to do to bounce back stronger for 2028 and beyond. It is not about emotions and blind loyalty to aspirants. Real work is required for our comeback in 2028.
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As a result, customers are temporarily unable to purchase data bundles.
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President John Mahama has called for unity and vigilance against forces that threaten Ghana’s social cohesion.
“Let us remain vigilant against the voices of tribalism, against the voices of religious extremism, and against the poison of political hostility,” Mr Mahama warned.
He continued “These are the seeds of division that we must never let take root in our precious nation, Ghana.”
At the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving held today in Accra, Mr Mahama emphasised the importance of fostering peace, compassion, and mutual respect among all Ghanaians.
“We must speak a language of peace, compassion, and mutual respect. We must build bridges, not barriers, for we are one people sharing one land and pursuing one identity and destiny,” he said.Source: Emmanuel Tetteh
