Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff under former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration and a known member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has criticised Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s ‘thank-you tour’ and questioned the rationale behind it. According to him, the tour is a misplaced priority.
“The whole exercise is misplaced. What are we going to thank them for? For not voting for us, or what? So, I don’t think this is the time for this kind of exercise,” he said on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, 29th April.
He argued that the tour is unnecessary given the party’s poor performance in the 2024 elections. Instead, he believes the focus should be on understanding the reasons behind the defeat and addressing the issues that contributed to it.
“Because we performed so miserably in this election, we have set up a committee to tour the country to investigate what went wrong. I believe the first thing we should do, after identifying the reasons for the party’s sorry state, is not to go out thanking people. The most important thing is to understand what happened and take decisive action,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has commenced a ‘thank-you tour’ following the party’s landslide defeat in the 2024 general elections. According to the party, the tour forms part of efforts to rebuild and re-energise the party ahead of the 2028 elections, while also appreciating the contributions of party members during the last campaign.
The tour comes on the heels of a report by a 12-member committee, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, which was established to investigate the reasons behind the party’s electoral loss. The party declined to make the contents of the report public.
The NPP’s thank-you tour, initiated by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has taken an unexpected turn, sparking intense debate and criticism within the party. Instead of solely focusing on gratitude, the tour has veered into apology and introspection, with some party members urging for a shift in approach.
Kennedy Agyapong, a prominent NPP member, has called for the party to mend internal rifts and present a united front ahead of the 2028 general election. During the thank-you tour in Takoradi, he emphasized the need for unity, citing Matthew 11:17-18, “A house that is divided against itself cannot stand”. Agyapong also appealed to national executives to grant amnesty to suspended members, including Paul Afoko and Alan Kyerematen, to rebuild the party’s strength.
Dr. Bawumia’s apology tour has also drawn attention, as he seeks forgiveness from Ghanaians for the party’s shortcomings while in government. Speaking in Goaso, he acknowledged mistakes made during their tenure and pledged to do better in the future. “We recognise that we have made mistakes along the way, and we sincerely ask for your forgiveness,” he said. This move has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling for more concrete actions to address the party’s challenges.
Some critics argue that the thank-you tour has become a platform for blame-shifting and internal power struggles, rather than a genuine effort to engage with Ghanaians. Razak Kojo Opoku, in an opinion piece, advised party members to season their words with salt and responsibility, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue and respect for differing opinions within the party.
As the NPP navigates these internal challenges, some have called for a halt to the thank-you tour, arguing that it has outlived its purpose. Instead, they suggest the party should focus on rebuilding and strengthening its grassroots support, addressing the issues that led to its poor performance in the 2024 elections. By doing so, the party may be able to regroup and present a more united front for the 2028 elections.
