Spending $58million on National Cathedral contributed to our election 2024 defeat – Bawumia

Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pointed to the National Cathedral controversy and a late surge in fuel prices as major reasons for the party’s loss in the 2024 general elections.

During his nationwide 'Thank You Tour' in Takoradi, Dr. Bawumia addressed reports linked to the Mike Oquaye Committee findings, which claimed that his perceived religious affiliations played a role in the NPP’s defeat. He firmly rejected this narrative, emphasising that the real issues were economic missteps and governance concerns.

Dr. Bawumia cited the National Cathedral project as a major source of public disillusionment. Initially announced in 2018 as a pledge by President Nana Akufo-Addo, the project was intended to be a national place of worship, funded by both the state and private contributions. However, as construction stalled and costs ballooned, with $58 million in public funds reportedly spent despite little visible progress, public trust began to erode.

Critics increasingly questioned the project’s transparency, its prioritisation amid economic hardship, and the use of taxpayers’ money.

He also pointed to another misstep: a sharp rise in fuel prices just three days before the polls. According to Bawumia, the timing of the fuel hike further alienated voters already burdened by a high cost of living.

Insisting that religion and tribal issues were not the root cause of the NPP’s defeat, Dr. Bawumia stressed that tangible governance failures needed to be acknowledged and addressed.

“The national cathedral we were not able to complete after $58 million was sunk into into it, caused a lot of rage in the public. Also, three days before the election day, the price of fuel went up. When I heard it, I thought it was a joke. The drivers were angry at us. So, people went to vote against us with anger. That is why we put together the Mike Oquaye Committee to produce a report on why we lost. I am happy that there is no religious factor, and tribal factor that caused our defeat,” he emphasised.

His comments come amid growing calls within the NPP for a thorough review of the party’s election strategies and leadership decisions, as it seeks to rebuild and reposition itself ahead of future contests