According to him, the party’s choice of candidate played a key role in their defeat.
Speaking to party members during a meeting, Dr. Acheampong explained that while former presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo managed to secure strong support across northern Ghana, the same could not be said for the 2024 elections.
“President Kufuor won massive votes from the Kusasi areas, and President Akufo-Addo also enjoyed that support. But in 2024, because the contest was seen as a fight between Mamprusis and Kusasis, we struggled to win votes across the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and Oti regions,” he said.
Dr. Acheampong was quick to add that the outcome was not necessarily a reflection of Dr. Bawumia’s personal competence.
Instead, he described the situation as one of timing and circumstance, noting that Bawumia became “a victim of political realities beyond his control.”
He admitted that the NPP lost several seats in northern constituencies largely because of this factor, stressing that it was an issue the party could not overlook if it wanted to return to power in the future.
Dr. Bawumia, who served as Ghana’s Vice President from 2017 to 2025, was widely recognized for his work on digitalization and economic reforms.
However, Dr. Acheampong believes the electoral defeat was tied more to context than capability.
Looking ahead to the 2028 elections, Dr. Acheampong advised his party to be more strategic in choosing its next leader.
He urged NPP members to unite behind a candidate who could appeal broadly to Ghanaians across all regions and avoid divisions that could cost the party another election.
“This is a lesson for us,” he told supporters.
“If we want to win again, we must choose a leader who can unite the base and attract the trust of every Ghanaian, no matter where they come from.”