By In the wake of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) stunning defeat in Ghana’s 2024 general elections, a bombshell revelation attributed to NPP National Chairman Stephen Ntim has laid bare the party’s desperate measures to cling to power. According to a quote circulating on X, reportedly drawn from page 123 of the Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye-led committee report, Ntim admitted to placing prominent middle-class influencers—Samuel Atta Mensah of Citi FM, Kofi Bentil, and Prof.
Isaac Antwi of UPSA—on the National Security payroll to counter growing public frustration over the ostentatious wealth of government appointees. This move, Ntim claimed, was necessary to retain the loyalty of the middle class, a critical voting bloc whose disillusionment significantly contributed to the NPP’s electoral loss. This 800-word analysis explores the implications of Ntim’s alleged confession, the context of the NPP’s 2024 campaign, and the broader questions it raises about political ethics and governance in Ghana.
The Allegation: A Strategy of Paid Loyalty
The quote attributed to Ntim is both shocking and revealing: “If not for individuals like Samuel Atta Mensah of Citi FM, Kofi Bentil, and Prof. Isaac Antwi of UPSA, the growing frustration among the middle class—sparked by the blatant wealth accumulation by some of our appointees—would have been even more damaging. That frustration played a major role in our loss of support from that critical segment of society.
To manage the situation and retain their loyalty, we had to place these individuals on the National Security payroll so they could help push the government’s agenda. As Kofi Bentil put it, we had reached a point where loyalty had to be bought. I had no choice but to agree with the National Security Minister to include them on the payroll.” If authentic, this statement exposes a calculated effort by the NPP to manipulate public opinion by co-opting influential voices.
The individuals named—Samuel Atta Mensah, a respected journalist with Citi FM; Kofi Bentil, a vocal lawyer and Vice President of IMANI Africa; and Prof. Isaac Antwi, an academic at the University of Professional Studies, Accra—are notable for their credibility and influence among Ghana’s middle class. Their platforms amplified critiques of governance, making them ideal candidates to sway public sentiment.
Ntim’s claim that these figures were paid to “push the government’s agenda” suggests a transactional relationship, undermining their perceived independence and raising ethical questions about their roles as public commentators.
The reference to Kofi Bentil’s alleged remark—“we had reached a point where loyalty had to be bought”—is particularly damning. If true, it implies Bentil’s complicity in the scheme, potentially tarnishing his reputation as a principled advocate. However, without direct evidence from the Oquaye report or responses from the named individuals, these claims remain unverified. The lack of public statements from Mensah, Bentil, or Antwi as of April 21, 2025, further clouds the narrative, leaving room for speculation about their involvement.
Context: Middle-Class Frustration and Electoral Fallout
Ntim’s statement points to a critical factor in the NPP’s 2024 defeat: the alienation of Ghana’s middle class. This demographic, often urban, educated, and economically aspirational, has historically been a swing vote in Ghanaian elections. The NPP, under President Nana Akufo-Addo and presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, faced mounting criticism for economic mismanagement, rising debt, and perceived corruption.
Ntim’s reference to “blatant wealth accumulation by some of our appointees” likely alludes to high-profile scandals, such as allegations of unexplained wealth among ministers and public officials, which fueled public outrage. X posts from early 2025 highlight the middle class’s growing discontent, with users like @GhanaFirst_ on April 18, 2025, decrying the NPP’s “arrogance and opulence” as a betrayal of its 2016 anti-corruption promises.
The NPP’s loss to John Dramani Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), which secured 56.55% of the presidential vote, was particularly pronounced in urban centers like Accra, where middle-class voters turned away from the party. Ntim’s admission suggests the NPP recognized this threat but resorted to ethically dubious tactics to mitigate it.
The decision to involve the National Security apparatus in this scheme is particularly troubling. Placing civilians on a security payroll to influence public opinion raises serious questions about the misuse of state resources and the integrity of national security institutions. The unnamed National Security Minister’s role in this arrangement further implicates the highest levels of government, suggesting a coordinated effort to prioritize political survival over democratic principles.
The Oquaye Report: A Contested Document
The Oquaye report, commissioned in January 2025 to probe the NPP’s electoral loss, has become a lightning rod for controversy. Chaired by Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, a former Speaker of Parliament, the committee submitted its findings to the NPP’s National Council on April 16, 2025. While the report’s full contents remain confidential, leaks like Ntim’s alleged statement have fueled public intrigue.
Critics, including former MP Sarah Adwoa Safo and NPP co-founder Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, have questioned the committee’s impartiality, citing Oquaye’s ties to the party establishment and his son’s electoral defeat as potential biases.
The report’s secrecy has only deepened skepticism. Dr. Jonathan Asante Okyere, a political analyst, argued on April 20, 2025, that the NPP’s reluctance to release the document reflects a desire to protect powerful figures implicated in its findings. If Ntim’s statement is accurate, the report may contain further revelations about the party’s internal dysfunction and ethical lapses, making its suppression a strategic move to avoid further damage.
Implications for Ghanaian Politics
Ntim’s alleged confession has profound implications for the NPP and Ghana’s democratic landscape. First, it undermines public trust in independent voices like journalists and academics, who are expected to hold power to account. If figures like Mensah, Bentil, and Antwi were indeed co-opted, their credibility could be irreparably harmed, weakening civil society’s role as a check on government excesses.
Second, the use of National Security funds to buy loyalty sets a dangerous precedent. It suggests a willingness to weaponize state institutions for partisan gain, eroding the separation between governance and politics. This tactic, if confirmed, could embolden future administrations to employ similar strategies, further undermining democratic norms.
For the NPP, the fallout from this revelation could exacerbate its post-election challenges. The party is already grappling with factionalism and public disillusionment. Ntim’s admission, if substantiated, may alienate grassroots supporters and reformist elements within the party, complicating efforts to rebuild ahead of 2028.
Unanswered Questions and the Path Forward
The absence of the Oquaye report in the public domain leaves critical questions unresolved. Were Mensah, Bentil, and Antwi aware of their inclusion on the National Security payroll, and did they actively promote the NPP’s agenda? What specific actions did the National Security Minister take to facilitate this scheme, and were other individuals similarly co-opted? Most importantly, how widespread was this practice within the NPP’s campaign?
Until the report is released or the named individuals respond, these questions will fuel speculation and distrust. The NPP must decide whether to embrace transparency by publishing the report or risk further erosion of its credibility by maintaining secrecy. For Ghana’s democracy, the incident underscores the need for stronger safeguards to protect state institutions from partisan abuse and ensure the independence of civil society.
Conclusion
Stephen Ntim’s alleged admission, as reported from the Oquaye report, exposes a troubling chapter in the NPP’s 2024 election campaign. By resorting to paid loyalty to manage middle-class frustration, the party betrayed its commitment to ethical governance, contributing to its electoral downfall. This revelation, if verified, should prompt soul-searching within the NPP and a broader national conversation about the integrity of political processes. As Ghana moves forward, the lessons from this episode—transparency, accountability, and respect for democratic principles—must guide efforts to strengthen its democracy
