Our boycott decision affected us – NPP’s Kodua on rerun loss

 

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has admitted that the party’s disappointing performance in the recent Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun was largely due to inadequate preparation, resulting from an earlier decision to boycott the process.

Speaking on Wontumi TV’s morning show with host Oheneba Nana Asiedu, Kodua candidly explained the NPP’s internal missteps that contributed to the defeat.

“We were not prepared for the Ablekuma North rerun. The party had earlier decided to boycott the process due to certain unresolved concerns, and by the time circumstances changed, it was too late to put adequate structures in place,” Kodua stated.

Strategic Gaps and Delayed Mobilization

Kodua revealed that the party’s delayed commitment to the rerun meant that crucial campaign structures were not in place, ultimately affecting their performance at the polls. He admitted that had the party been proactive, it would have deployed more effective campaign strategies and fully mobilized its grassroots support.

“Had the party committed fully to contesting the rerun, we would have deployed stronger strategies and mobilized our base accordingly,” he noted.

The NPP’s lack of visibility and limited engagement with constituents during the campaign period were widely cited as contributing factors to the poor results.

Looking Ahead: Focus on Akwatia

Despite the setback, Kodua struck an optimistic tone regarding the NPP’s prospects in upcoming electoral contests. He assured party faithful that lessons had been learned and that the leadership was fully committed to improving performance in future elections.

“We’re ready for the upcoming Akwatia election,” Kodua assured viewers, signaling a more strategic and organized approach going forward.

The Ablekuma North rerun was marred by low voter turnout and incidents of violence, raising broader questions about electoral participation and security — but Kodua’s admission adds a new layer, underscoring the importance of party readiness and internal cohesion in competitive races.