By Analysis: Unverified Claims of Strategic Blunders in the NPP’s 2024 Campaign
In the wake of Ghana’s 2024 general elections, a new controversy has emerged, spotlighting the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) campaign strategy. A quote allegedly attributed to Peter Mac Manu, a former NPP Chairman and prominent political strategist, has surfaced, claiming that the party misjudged Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s appeal and made a critical error in selecting his running mate.
Reportedly found on page 65 of the “Oquaye Report,” the statement reads: “By the time we realized that Dr. Bawumia’s charisma couldn’t be enhanced, it was already too late. We had hoped to select a running mate who would complement him, but instead, he chose someone who turned out to be a liability.”
This claim, linked to a private media file on X , has sparked debate about the NPP’s electoral loss and internal decision-making. This article analyzes the veracity and implications of this allegation, situating it within Ghana’s polarized political landscape as of April 21, 2025.
Verification Efforts
Verifying the authenticity of Mac Manu’s alleged statement is challenging due to the lack of publicly accessible evidence. The “Oquaye Report,” referenced in the claim, does not appear in mainstream Ghanaian media, government publications, or academic sources. The name likely refers to Prof. Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament, who was appointed to lead an 11-member NPP committee to review the party’s 2024 election loss, as reported by Adomonline.com on January 15, 2025.
However, no official documentation confirms that this committee produced a report titled “Oquaye Report” or that it included Mac Manu’s quote. The X media link provided is private, inaccessible without direct access to the sender’s account, further complicating verification.
Posts on X, including those by users like @nyavorx, @_GhChronicles, and @PExposes on April 17-18, 2025, repeat the same quote, attributing it to Mac Manu and page 65 of the Oquaye Report. These posts, while consistent, lack primary evidence and appear to echo a single source, possibly the private media file. Without a verifiable copy of the report or an official statement from Mac Manu, the claim remains speculative.
Contextual Analysis
Peter Mac Manu is a credible figure for such a statement, given his extensive history with the NPP. As former National Chairman and campaign manager for President Nana Akufo-Addo’s 2016 and 2020 election bids, Mac Manu has deep insight into party strategy. His role as Board Chair of the Ghana Cocoa Board, appointed in 2021, underscores his influence within the NPP. The allegation that he criticized Bawumia’s charisma and running mate choice aligns with post-election critiques of the NPP’s campaign, particularly after their 2024 defeat.
Dr. Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, was a polarizing figure. As Vice President, he championed economic digitization but faced criticism over Ghana’s economic challenges, including inflation and debt. The claim that his “charisma couldn’t be enhanced” suggests internal acknowledgment of his limited public appeal, a factor that may have hindered voter mobilization.
The running mate in question is likely Matthew Opoku Prempeh, known as “Napo.” His selection sparked debate. The debate arose due to perceived arrogance and regional imbalances in the ticket. X posts and media reports from 2024 noted public dissatisfaction with Napo, lending some plausibility to the “liability” claim, though no direct evidence confirms Mac Manu’s alleged statement.
The broader context of the NPP’s 2024 loss provides fertile ground for such allegations. Prof. Oquaye’s election review committee, criticized by former MP Eugene Boakye as led by “part of the problem,” reflects internal party tensions. Boakye’s call for transparency, citing past processes under Mac Manu and John Boadu, suggests dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and decision-making. The alleged Oquaye Report could be a product of this review, but its absence from public records raises doubts about its existence or circulation.
Plausibility and Implications
The claim’s plausibility rests on several factors:
- Mac Manu’s Expertise: His strategic role makes him a likely commentator on campaign missteps.
- Bawumia’s Challenges: Public sentiment, reflected in X posts, often criticized Bawumia’s leadership style, supporting the charisma critique.
- Running Mate Controversy: Napo’s selection was divisive, aligning with the “liability” narrative.
- Post-Election Fallout: The NPP’s loss and subsequent review committee indicate internal reflection, making such a report feasible.
However, significant gaps undermine the claim’s credibility:
- Lack of Evidence: The Oquaye Report is unverified, and the X link is private.
- Repetition Without Source: X posts recycle the quote without new evidence, suggesting a single, unconfirmed origin.
- Political Motives: The claim could be opposition-driven misinformation to discredit the NPP, a common tactic in Ghana’s polarized politics.
If true, the statement reveals critical flaws in the NPP’s 2024 strategy, highlighting poor candidate selection and overreliance on Bawumia’s technocratic image. It could fuel calls for reform within the party, especially as it prepares for future elections. If false, it underscores the dangers of misinformation in shaping public perception, particularly on platforms like X, where unverified claims can gain traction.
Critical Perspective
The establishment narrative, as reflected in media and NPP statements, emphasizes unity and reform post-2024, with Oquaye’s committee tasked with objective analysis. However, the lack of transparency around the committee’s findings and the emergence of unverified quotes like Mac Manu’s suggest a fragmented party struggling to control its narrative.
The absence of the Oquaye Report in public discourse raises questions about whether it exists or is deliberately withheld to avoid further division. Alternatively, the claim could be a fabricated attempt to exploit these tensions, a reminder to critically examine sources rather than accept social media posts at face value.
Conclusion
The alleged statement by Peter Mac Manu in the Oquaye Report offers a tantalizing glimpse into the NPP’s 2024 campaign struggles but lacks verifiable evidence. While Mac Manu’s credentials and the party’s electoral loss lend some plausibility, the unconfirmed status of the Oquaye Report and the private X link cast doubt on the claim’s authenticity.
In Ghana’s charged political climate, such allegations can inflame tensions or mislead the public, underscoring the need for rigorous fact-checking. Until concrete evidence surfaces, this remains an intriguing but inconclusive narrative, highlighting the complexities of political strategy and public trust.
Disclaimer: This article discusses unverified allegations attributed to Peter Mac Manu from an inaccessible source, the so-called “Oquaye Report.” The claims are not confirmed and should be approached with skepticism. The analysis is for discussion purposes only and does not endorse the allegations as factual. Readers are encouraged to seek primary sources and verify information independently.
