Election 2024 defeat: 'Three days to the election day, price of fuel went up; when I heard it, I thought it was a joke' — Bawumia

Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pointed to a late surge in fuel prices as major reason that accounted for the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections.

He pointed to the 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.

He firmly rejected this narrative, emphasising that the real issues were economic missteps and governance concerns.

Dr. Bawumia also 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.

During his nationwide 'Thank You Tour' in Takoradi on Saturday, 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.

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.