Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has identified the contentious National Cathedral project and a last-minute hike in fuel prices as key factors behind the party’s defeat in the 2024 polls.

Addressing supporters in Takoradi during the launch of his nationwide Thank You Tour, Dr. Bawumia addressed claims from alleged leaks of the Mike Oquaye Committee report, which suggested that his perceived religious overtures played a role in the NPP’s loss.

The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate rejected this assertion, emphasizing that economic and governance challenges were the primary reasons for the electoral setback.

Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the stalled National Cathedral initiative, which had already absorbed $58 million in state funds, damaged public confidence and intensified voter discontent.

Additionally, he pointed to the timing of the fuel price adjustment just days before the election as another critical misstep that swayed voters away from the NPP. He maintained that neither religious nor ethnic divisions were responsible for the party’s defeat

“The national cathedral we were not able to complete after $58 million was sunk into into it, caused a lot of rage in the public,” he stated.

“Also, three days before the election day, the price of fuel went up. When I heard it, I thought it was a joke. The drivers were angry at us. So, people went to vote against us with anger. That is why we put together the Mike Oquaye Committee to produce a report on why we lost. I am happy that there is no religious factor, and tribal factor that caused our defeat,” he stated.