Private legal practitioner and leading New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure in the Nandom Constituency, Lawyer Sylvester Isang, has attributed the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election to a combination of national dissatisfaction with the Akufo-Addo administration and internal divisions within the party in Nandom.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the Master of Chambers at Isang@Law Chambers in Tamale said the electorate’s overwhelming desire for political change across the country played a decisive role in the NPP’s loss of both the presidency and the Nandom parliamentary seat.
According to him, many Ghanaians believed the NPP had completed its mandate after serving two terms in office and were prepared to give another party the opportunity to govern.
“There was a general mood for change across the country. Nandom was not isolated from that national sentiment,” he said.
Lawyer Isang explained that public concerns over the economy, rising fuel prices, allegations of corruption, illegal mining and perceptions that some government officials had escaped accountability all contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
He noted that many voters wanted a new administration to investigate allegations of corruption and restore public confidence in governance.
At the constituency level, he said the NPP’s defeat was compounded by internal disagreements and perceptions surrounding the party’s campaign.
While acknowledging the development projects undertaken under former Nandom MP Ambrose Dery, Lawyer Isang said politics extends beyond infrastructure and social interventions.
“Honourable Ambrose Dery’s record in terms of roads and opportunities for young people is there for everyone to see. But elections are influenced by many factors, not development alone,” he said.
He said some sections of the electorate felt it was time for new leadership after Mr. Dery had served multiple terms in Parliament.
Lawyer Isang also pointed to divisions within the NPP in the constituency, saying factionalism weakened the campaign and ultimately affected the party’s electoral fortunes.
“Our own internal issues affected us. We had divisions within the party and those divisions reflected in our campaign. We cannot pretend they did not exist,” he stated.
He stressed that the NDC’s victory in Nandom should not necessarily be interpreted as overwhelming public endorsement of the opposition party.
Instead, he argued, many voters simply wanted political change.
“I don’t think people voted because they suddenly believed the NDC had become exceptionally stronger. The desire for change was nationwide, and Nandom was part of that national mood,” he said.
According to him, there is an important distinction between voters embracing a political party and voters seeking to remove an incumbent administration.
“Sometimes elections are won because people buy into your vision. Other times they are won because people want change. In 2024, I believe the desire for change played a major role.”
Lawyer Isang urged the NPP to honestly assess the causes of its defeat and use the lessons to rebuild ahead of the 2028 general election.
He said the party must address both the national issues that affected public confidence and the local organisational weaknesses that undermined its campaign in Nandom.
“If we learn the right lessons from 2024, reconnect with the grassroots and restore unity within the party, the future remains bright,” he added.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
