Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, has cautioned that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) faces a tougher task in the 2028 general election due to lingering public dissatisfaction with the party’s record in government.
According to him, the economic difficulties experienced under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo remain fresh in the minds of Ghanaians and are unlikely to be easily forgiven, a situation he believes could negatively affect the NPP’s electoral prospects in 2028.
Mr. Cudjoe made the remarks during an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, as the NPP conducts its presidential primary nationwide.
He said while the party’s decision to select a new flagbearer is part of the democratic process, the memories of the past eight years in government would present a significant challenge going into the next general election.
“The NPP has been looking forward to this [presidential primary], except that even if they contest the next election, it will be a higher barrier to cross because of the very fresh memory of the last eight years,” he said.
Mr. Cudjoe cited issues such as economic mismanagement, depreciation of the local currency, rising living costs, political intolerance, and what he described as arrogance in governance as factors that have eroded public trust.
He questioned whether any of the current aspirants could convincingly address the concerns of Ghanaians, including the desire for stable prices, effective currency management, peace of mind, and respectful political leadership.
“While they look at this with some sort of nostalgia to select a different candidate, we, on the other hand, are very interested in asking questions. As to who among these five can take us to Nevana, if Nevana is supposed to be a good destination for good outcomes in our lives, lower prices, currency being managed well, peace of mind, no insults, no arrogance, those little things we expected in the last 8 years, and we never got.
“The 8-years were darker, but the last four years were darkest. We had no reason to do some of the things we did. There was complete anarchy, as if there was an absentee leader,” he added.
Five aspirants are contesting the NPP presidential primary: former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, businessman Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Bryan Acheampong, former Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
The outcome of the primary will determine the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general election.
