Former Deputy Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Yaw Preko, has dismissed claims that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership was the reason for the party’s defeat in the previous elections.
According to Nana Yaw, the NPP’s loss can be attributed to various factors, including the taxation policies implemented by the government, such as the betting tax and e-levy, which upset the Ghanaian youth.
“The introduction of these taxes was a major blow to the party’s popularity, especially among the youth. Many Ghanaians felt that the taxes were an additional burden, and this sentiment was reflected in the election results,” Nana Yaw explained.
Additionally, Nana Yaw cited the consolidation of banks by President Akufo-Addo, which led to disagreements among Ghanaians. He emphasized that Dr. Bawumia was not opposed to the betting and e-levy taxes, and in fact, had promised to cancel them in his manifesto.
“It’s unfair to blame Dr. Bawumia for the party’s defeat when he had actually promised to address the concerns of Ghanaians on these taxes,” Nana Yaw said.
Nana Yaw also highlighted the government’s fight against illegal mining as another significant factor contributing to the NPP’s defeat. He noted that while the fight against illegal mining was a necessary step, its implementation had significant social and economic implications for many Ghanaians.
“The fight against illegal mining was a complex issue that required careful handling,” Nana Yaw explained. “Unfortunately, the implementation of the policy had unintended consequences that affected many Ghanaians, and this ultimately impacted the party’s performance in the elections.”
He made these comments during an interview on Wontumi morning show on Wontumi TV, stressing that Dr. Bawumia’s leadership was not the primary cause of the party’s loss.
