By Emmanuella Sarfo
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has attributed the New Patriotic Party鈥檚 (NPP) loss in the 2024 general elections to a series of unpopular economic policies implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Channel One TV鈥檚 Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, July 1, Mr. Boakye Antwi said the Ghanaian economy was on the right track prior to the pandemic, but post-COVID fiscal measures alienated the electorate.
鈥淭he economy was on the right track before COVID-19 struck. COVID-19 struck, and all hell broke loose. We then had to introduce more austere policies like the E-Levy, Betting Tax, and what have you. And those kinds of policies did not help,鈥 he said.
He further pointed to the post-IMF debt restructuring and related interventions, including the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), as having severely undermined public confidence.
鈥淎fter the International Monetary Fund, there were other austere policies like the DDEP, and what have you. Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the nation and assured our savers, pensioners, and investors of no haircut, but there was a haircut.”
“The haircut wiped away investments, pensions, and savings. And that hurt us very badly. It just didn鈥檛 impact the economy; it wounded us,鈥 he said.
Mr. Boakye Antwi鈥檚 remarks reflect growing concerns within NPP circles, where some insiders and political analysts have blamed the party鈥檚 defeat on economic hardship, policy missteps, and broken promises.
His comments come at a time when the NPP is grappling with internal debate over its future direction and strategies to rebuild public trust ahead of the 2028 elections.