Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has pointed to the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) influence over key media outlets as a significant disadvantage for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the December 7 presidential election.
Addressing NPP communicators at his residence yesterday, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the party’s commendable efforts but noted that a media imbalance posed challenges to their electoral strategy.
“We dominated the NDC in social media. I mean, by far, very, very clearly,” he said. “But we were working against their ownership of support from key media houses. That put us at a disadvantage in many ways in terms of the communication field.”
Despite this hurdle, Dr. Bawumia commended the team for their dedication and hard work. “You fought very hard at the time you had the opportunity,” he remarked. “I must tell you that I’m very proud of you. Very, very, very proud.”
Election Outcome
The Electoral Commission’s provisional results from 267 constituencies (excluding nine yet-to-be-declared constituencies) showed NDC candidate John Dramani Mahama securing 6,328,397 votes (56.55%), defeating Dr. Bawumia, who garnered 4,657,304 votes (41.61%).
Dr. Bawumia reflected on the campaign and the unexpected voter turnout that influenced the results. While he did not explicitly blame the NDC’s media advantage for the loss, his comments underscored the importance of addressing this disparity in the NPP’s post-election strategy.
“I’ve been following the communication very closely over the campaign because I wanted to know how things were going across the space,” he said, signaling the need for a reassessment of the party’s communication framework.
Moving Forward
As the NPP transitions into opposition, Dr. Bawumia’s remarks serve as a call to action for the party to strengthen its media presence. Emphasizing the need to balance traditional and digital communication platforms, his comments suggest a strategic pivot to ensure the NPP remains competitive in future elections.
This reflection comes amid broader discussions within the NPP on how to rebuild and prepare for the next electoral cycle.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
