The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has expressed surprise and disappointment over the outcome of the 2024 parliamentary elections.

According to Mr. Kodua, the party provided unprecedented support to its parliamentary candidates during the election, a sentiment echoed by the candidates themselves.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen show on Tuesday, January 14, Mr Kodua admitted, “We are still in disbelief; the election outcome has left us stunned.”

He highlighted that one major issue leading up to the 2020 election was the imposition of certain candidates on constituencies, hinting at lessons the party had hoped to address in subsequent elections.

“We made a commitment to ensure such incidents did not recur in the 2023/2024 primaries. I believe you can attest that we conducted one of the most transparent and efficient parliamentary primaries in our party’s history, free of any controversy. Constituencies were given the full opportunity to elect their preferred candidates to lead them in the 2024 election.”

The General Secretary of the NPP disclosed that an album validation committee was established to promote transparency during the primaries and prevent misunderstandings among party members.

Mr. Kodua also explained his decision to avoid media interviews following the election, citing his bewilderment over the party’s significant loss of seats despite efforts to ensure a smooth and transparent election process during the primaries.

Expressing optimism, he affirmed his strong confidence in the committee tasked with investigating the factors behind the party’s performance in the 2024 election.

“The committee, chaired by Prof. Mike Oquaye, will conduct a thorough investigation to uncover what truly transpired.”

He attributed the party’s poor performance to widespread apathy that had taken root within its ranks, which he claimed significantly impacted both the presidential and parliamentary outcomes.

“The level of apathy that permeated the party during the 2024 elections had a significant impact on both the presidential and parliamentary candidates.”

While the 8th Parliament saw both major parties -NPP, NDC – holding 137 seats each, with an independent MP supporting the NPP to secure a slight majority, the 9th Parliament has seen a dramatic shift.

The NDC now holds 183 seats, leaving the NPP with just 88 seats, alongside four independent MPs. One parliamentary seat remains undecided as the Electoral Commission addresses an outstanding dispute.