Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has partly attributed the party’s loss in the 2024 general election to the controversy surrounding the National Cathedral project and a last-minute spike in fuel prices.
Speaking in Takoradi at the start of his nationwide Thank You Tour, Dr. Bawumia responded to reports allegedly leaking from the Mike Oquaye Committee’s findings, which suggested his perceived religious “flirting” played a role in the defeat.
Dr. Bawumia firmly dismissed that claim, pointing instead to real economic and governance missteps.
He emphasized that the uncompleted National Cathedral project, which had already consumed $58 million in public funds, deeply eroded public trust and fueled widespread voter dissatisfaction.
He also highlighted the sharp increase in fuel prices just three days before the election, describing it as another major blow to the NPP’s chances.
According to him, this sudden hike angered drivers and commuters, many of whom expressed their frustration at the ballot box.
“The National Cathedral we were not able to complete after $58 million was sunk into it caused a lot of rage in the public,” he said.
“Also, three days before election day, the price of fuel went up. When I heard it, I thought it was a joke. The drivers were angry at us. So, people went to vote against us with anger. That is why we put together the Mike Oquaye Committee to produce a report on why we lost. I am happy that there is no religious or tribal factor that caused our defeat,” he added.