The Ablekuma North Rerun Loss Will Cause More Harm To NPP Than Good

On July 17, 2025, Kwaku Amoh Darteh (Esq.) appeared on Net2TV and stated that losing the Ablekuma North rerun would do more harm than good to the NPP.

Darteh, a spokesperson for the NPP, warned that after failing to defend its seat in the rerun, it would be a significant blow—morally, politically, and symbolically.

The Lawyer said, the loss in Ablekuma North would dent the party’s reputation in its traditional strongholds. He further argued it would signal weakening support and have negative ripple effects ahead of future elections.

The rerun was held on July 11, 2025, after irregularities in 19 polling stations prevented timely results in the original December 2024 election.

The NPP’s defeat in Ablekuma North, a long-standing stronghold since 1992, marked a historic win for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, who secured 34,090 votes against the NPP’s Nana Akua Afriyie’s 33,881, ending the NPP’s 28-year dominance.

Dartey’s perspective likely reflects several impacts on the NPP.

The defeat reduced the NPP’s parliamentary seats to 83 compared to the NDC’s 184, potentially allowing the NDC to achieve a two-thirds majority, which could significantly shift the balance of power in Ghana’s Parliament.

The rerun exposed internal divisions, as Nana Akua Afriyie defied the NPP’s boycott directive to contest the election, supported by some party members like Mpraeso MP Davis Opoku Ansah and Nhyiaeso MP Dr. Stephen Amoah. Her subsequent apology to the party’s National Council highlights the strain her decision caused, potentially weakening party cohesion.

The loss, coupled with violent incidents during the rerun, including assaults on Afriyie, former MP Hawa Koomson, and journalists, underscored a lack of grassroots mobilization and low party morale. Commentators noted that the absence of strong retaliation from NPP supporters indicated a demoralized base, further dipping the party’s fortunes ahead of future elections like the Akwatia by-election.

Kufuor Bitterly Complains About New Patriotic Party’s Treatment Of Him

The NPP’s initial boycott, based on claims that Afriyie had won the December 2024 election by 414 votes, and their accusations against the Electoral Commission (EC) for undermining the people’s will, may have damaged public trust. The violence and chaos during the rerun, condemned as a “stain on Ghana’s democracy,” could further tarnish the NPP’s image.

Dartey’s assertion suggests that the combination of losing a key seat, internal discord, and negative public perception outweighs any short-term strategic gain from the boycott stance, posing long-term challenges for the NPP’s political standing.