The Reason Why They Voted for Bamba Instead of Dr. Mohammed Hamid – Seidu Fiter breaks it down

Seidu Fiter has questioned the decision by delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to elect Kojo Bamba instead of Dr. Mohammed Hamid, arguing that their choice reflects a misunderstanding of the factors behind the party’s electoral setbacks. Drawing on observations attributed to legal practitioner Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, Fiter examined the NPP’s political strategy and warned that prioritising confrontation over credible policies could further weaken the party’s electoral prospects.

Fiter disagreed with the argument that delegates selected Bamba because they wanted a leader capable of confronting the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He maintained that an aggressive political approach was not what determined the outcome of the previous general election. In his assessment, the NPP’s defeat was largely linked to its inability to retain middle-class voters who had become dissatisfied with economic management, particularly concerns surrounding the exchange rate under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

According to Fiter, middle-class voters are more concerned about economic stability, responsible governance, and credible policies than political theatrics. He argued that the NPP must understand these priorities if it hopes to rebuild public confidence and regain the support of voters who abandoned the party.

He contrasted the NPP’s perceived emphasis on confrontation with what he described as the NDC’s increasing reliance on data, evidence, and issue-based communication. Fiter pointed to the approach of current party and government communicators, suggesting that their emphasis on facts and continuous fact-checking represents a more effective way of engaging the public and defending government policies.

Fiter also questioned whether the NPP delegates had adequately considered the findings of the Prof. Mike Ocquaye Report, which examined the party’s electoral weaknesses. He suggested that instead of addressing the underlying reasons for their defeat, some delegates appeared to have prioritised a combative political style over the policy knowledge, intellectual depth, and strategic thinking needed to reconnect with voters.

To support his argument, Fiter highlighted the NPP’s poor performance in several regions during the previous election. He noted that the party lost all nine parliamentary seats in the Oti Region and all 15 seats in the Upper East Region. He also pointed out that the NPP failed to secure a parliamentary seat in the Upper West Region. These results, in his view, demonstrated the extent of the party’s electoral difficulties across different parts of the country.

He further cited developments in the Western, Western North, and Central regions to challenge the belief that confrontation was essential for electoral success. According to his analysis, the NDC gained parliamentary seats in the Western and Western North regions without relying on widespread confrontational tactics. He also referred to events in Awutu Senya East, where he said the NDC intervened to prevent an alleged attempt to manipulate election results.

For Fiter, these examples demonstrate that confrontation was not the decisive factor in the election. He argued that voting took place across 276 constituencies, while incidents involving confrontation occurred in fewer than ten. On that basis, he questioned why the NPP would place so much emphasis on a combative approach when the party’s electoral challenges were far more extensive.

He further suggested that the delegates’ decision could ultimately benefit the NDC rather than help the NPP recover. In his view, choosing a leadership style centred on confrontation could distract the opposition party from the economic and governance concerns that influenced voters’ decisions. He warned that the consequences of the delegates’ choice might become more apparent during the next general election.

Fiter also raised concerns about Bamba’s reported past association with the Delta Force, a group linked to an incident in which its members stormed a court and intimidated a female judge. He considered this history particularly significant because former President Akufo-Addo had assented to the Anti-Vigilantism Act, which was intended to address political vigilantism. Fiter viewed the situation as ironic, arguing that the party’s leadership choices should be consistent with its stated commitment to tackling such conduct.

Ultimately, Fiter’s criticism centred on what he considers a strategic error by NPP delegates. He argued that the party’s recovery depends on understanding why voters withdrew their support, addressing concerns about economic management, and presenting credible policies rather than relying primarily on aggressive political messaging. He warned that unless the NPP reassesses its priorities and reconnects with middle-class and other disillusioned voters, its decision to favour confrontation over policy-driven leadership could make the task of returning to power considerably more difficult.

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