When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced a nationwide “Thank You” tour following its humiliating defeat in the 2024 general elections, many considered it a commendable gesture.
At the very least, it was an opportunity to express gratitude to the over four million Ghanaians who voted for the party and its Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
However, what was supposed to be a moment of reflection and healing has instead exposed deepening cracks within the party. What was meant to unify has turned into yet another episode of internal division and public embarrassment.
We have all witnessed the unfortunate and, frankly, unnecessary public altercation between two prominent figures—Kennedy Agyapong and Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.
Their public spat, marked by accusations, counter-accusations, and classist rhetoric, raises the question: Is this what the “Thank You” tour is about? Shouldn’t it be about reconciliation, not rivalry?
To make matters worse, Dr. Bawumia himself, during this same tour, appeared to shift blame for the party’s defeat, citing issues such as economic hardship, the E-Levy, and what he termed the “arrogance of power.” Ironically, the arrogance he condemned is being blatantly displayed during this very tour.
But ultimately, the blame must be placed at the feet of the party leadership. The current chairman, whose primary appeal to delegates during his 2022 bid for the role was his long-standing commitment and loyalty, has proven to be ineffective. Under his leadership, the party has failed to foster unity or strategically manage post-election recovery.
One must ask: why has the entire party machinery thrown its weight behind Dr. Bawumia, a candidate with clear ambitions to run again? This alignment gives the impression that the party leadership is openly backing one candidate in what is expected to be another competitive Flagbearer contest. Wouldn’t it have been more prudent to allow Dr. Bawumia to conduct this tour independently?
Kennedy Agyapong, who has already declared his interest in contesting again, has accused the party of intimidating his supporters. In that context, inviting him to join a tour led by his chief rival seems disingenuous at best, and politically tone-deaf at worst.
Contrast this with the conduct of former President John Mahama, who, after his electoral losses in 2016 and 2020, embarked on his own “Thank You” tours without involving the full party leadership. Party figures like Asiedu Nketia only joined him publicly after he had been re-elected as Flagbearer.
The NPP leadership’s apparent bet on Dr. Bawumia’s return bid smacks of opportunism. They are pinning their own political futures to his, hoping that his popularity among delegates will secure their re-election at upcoming party congresses. This is a dangerous gamble, especially when the grassroots remain disillusioned and angry.
Moreover, the timing of the tour is questionable. The party is just months away from a critical national congress in July, where key constitutional amendments are expected. Wouldn’t it have been more strategic to focus on internal healing and reform first before venturing into public gestures of gratitude?
What the NPP truly needs right now is introspection, not pageantry. The 2024 election defeat should be an inflection point. The detailed report presented by Professor Mike Oquaye’s fact-finding committee offers the party a roadmap for reform. That document, not this tour, should be guiding the party’s next steps.
In short, this “Thank You” tour, rather than promoting unity, is aggravating divisions. It is a misjudged attempt at damage control that risks doing more harm than good.
