The Vice President of IMANI Africa has cautioned the NPP over what he describes as a persistent disconnect from public sentiment, particularly in its reaction to the NDC government’s newly introduced anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).

Bright Simons speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, February 15, Simons stated that ORAL has garnered significant public support, contrary to the dismissive posture of some political figures.

He warned that the NPP risks further alienation if it continues to trivialise issues that resonate deeply with Ghanaians.

“I think with Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), first and foremost, we have to be very clear that a lot of people in this country are excited about it. And I think those political actors who’ve made it a habit to try and caricature it and make fun of it are not attuned to public sentiment,” Simons stated.

According to him, the NPP’s reluctance to acknowledge the widespread appeal of ORAL is symptomatic of a broader problem—its tendency to dismiss the realities facing ordinary Ghanaians.

He pointed out that this detachment from data-driven insights and public grievances could have significant electoral repercussions.

“I think on the NPP side in particular, this tendency to be out of touch with public sentiment—you have to watch it going into the campaign. I had occasion to listen to some of their most senior people talk about the fact that, you know, Ghana is not Accra, and all this inflation talk is nonsense. And I’m like, do you know the actual regions that were suffering most from inflation? Savannah was number one,” he remarked.

Bright Simons criticised what he sees as an over-reliance on outdated political strategies that fail to align with the evolving concerns of the electorate.

He argued that Ghanaians are increasingly prioritising accountability over partisan loyalty, making ORAL a particularly appealing initiative.

“Sometimes it’s not data-informed, it’s not data-driven, and there’s this out-of-touch attitude about some of these matters that I think doesn’t serve the NPP well,” he noted.

He further revealed that even some individuals who were previously sceptical of the NDC’s broader governance agenda have found ORAL to be a compelling initiative.

“I know people who have said that they didn’t buy into the entire NDC agenda—all this 24-hour economy and the rest of it—but if only people will hold others accountable in Ghana and stem the flow of impunity, they will be happy,” Bright Simons said.