The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) disappointing performance in the 2024 parliamentary elections in Ghana’s Northern Region has been attributed to internal discord and a disregard for strategic advice offered by the party’s regional leadership. The NPP’s Regional Chairman, Mohammed Bantima Adam Samba, had presciently cautioned against holding primaries in certain constituencies, advocating for the retention of incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) to foster unity and conserve resources for the impending general election. This advice, however, was largely ignored, leading to internal divisions and ultimately contributing to the loss of key seats. The party’s Communications Director, Yussif Danjimah, publicly acknowledged the misstep, highlighting the detrimental consequences of disregarding Chairman Samba’s counsel.
The core of Chairman Samba’s strategy centered on maintaining party cohesion and maximizing electoral success by avoiding potentially divisive primary contests. He argued that allowing sitting MPs to run unopposed would not only minimize internal friction but also free up crucial resources, both financial and human, that could be better deployed in the general election campaign. This approach, he believed, would offer the party the best chance to present a united front against the opposition and address any existing internal rifts. This strategic foresight, unfortunately, was not embraced by the party, leading to the very outcomes Chairman Samba had sought to avert.
The consequences of disregarding Chairman Samba’s advice were starkly evident in the election results. Danjimah pinpointed the Zabzugu constituency as a prime example of the damage caused by internal divisions. The NPP narrowly lost the seat by fewer than 500 votes, a loss directly attributed to the fallout from a contested primary. The incumbent MP’s defeat triggered ethnic tensions within the constituency, fracturing the party’s base and ultimately handing the seat to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). This scenario, according to Danjimah, replicated itself in other constituencies, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem and the missed opportunity to consolidate the NPP’s position in the region.
The Zabzugu case serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges faced by the NPP in the Northern Region. The decision to hold primaries in constituencies where Chairman Samba had advised against it resulted in a net loss of three parliamentary seats, shifting the balance of power in favor of the NDC. The NPP entered the 2024 elections holding nine seats but emerged with only six. The NDC, on the other hand, capitalized on the NPP’s internal struggles, increasing their representation to 11 seats, with an independent candidate securing the remaining seat. This electoral setback underscores the significant impact of internal divisions and the importance of strategic decision-making in political contests.
Despite the overall disappointing outcome, Danjimah commended the six NPP parliamentary candidates who successfully retained their seats, praising their resilience and tenacity in the face of a challenging political climate. The fact that these candidates managed to secure victory despite widespread public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government speaks to their individual strength and campaign effectiveness. Their success, however, stands in stark contrast to the losses suffered elsewhere, further emphasizing the strategic blunders that hampered the party’s overall performance in the region.
The 2024 parliamentary election results in the Northern Region offer a valuable lesson for the NPP. The decision to disregard Chairman Samba’s advice regarding primaries proved costly, highlighting the importance of heeding experienced voices and prioritizing party unity over individual ambitions. The loss of three seats to the NDC serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of internal divisions and the critical need for strategic coherence in navigating the complexities of electoral politics. The NPP will need to carefully analyze these results and learn from the mistakes made in order to rebuild its support base and regain lost ground in future elections. The ability to listen to and act upon sound strategic advice will be crucial for the party’s success moving forward.
