Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto Committee, has revealed shocking details about the party’s failure to address the anger brewing in the Ashanti Region during recent elections.
According to Kokofu, the NPP was slow to respond to the growing dissatisfaction of the people in the region, which ultimately affected the party’s performance.
Speaking on Accra-based radio station Peace FM, Kokofu admitted that the party’s efforts to address the grievances of the Ashanti people came too late.
He explained that although they had tried to engage with local groups, apologize, and seek solutions, the people had already made up their minds by the time the party took action.
“Voter turnout was at an all-time low in the Ashanti region, which is bad,” Kokofu stated. He had hoped for a much higher turnout, expecting at least 80% of the voters to participate. However, the reality was far from what the party anticipated.
Kokofu went on to explain that one of the main issues that caused frustration in the Ashanti Region was the struggles of the business community, especially traders in Kumasi.
Many of these traders faced serious challenges when importing goods through the Tema Harbor and had to deal with harsh tax officials.
The situation became worse when tax officers from Accra arrived at the Kumasi magazine with large padlocks, not allowing local traders to speak up.
According to Kokofu, these problems had been ongoing for a long time, and the NPP was slow to address them.
On election day, Kokofu realized the full extent of the situation when it became clear that many people in the region had decided not to vote.
The anger and frustration were palpable, and the party’s delayed response only made things worse.
Kokofu’s comments shed light on the need for political parties to address regional concerns promptly.
When people feel ignored or unheard, it can have a lasting impact on their support during elections. The NPP now faces the consequences of its slow reaction to the needs of the Ashanti Region, and the party will likely have to work hard to regain the trust of the people there.
Link;
https://yawanews.com/2024/12/npp-was-too-late-in-addressing-anger-in-the-ashanti-region-kokofu-reveals/