A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Abdul-Jalilu Ateku, has argued that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the Akwatia by-election underlines the party’s continued struggles to recover from its heavy loss in the 2024 general elections.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, September 3, Dr Ateku observed that the NPP had yet to properly regroup and reorganise itself after what he described as a “massive” defeat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) last year.

“The reality is that the NPP has not recovered from their 2024 defeat because, if you look at the NDC’s victory in that election, it was very massive,” he remarked.

He stressed that unless the NPP urgently addresses internal divisions and lingering grievances, it risks undermining its chances in future contests.

“So the NPP will need to put their house in order, resolve the key issues, the differences and the rest. In my view, they have not yet done so,” he added.

The by-election in Akwatia, triggered by the death of sitting MP Ernest Kumi, was won decisively by the NDC’s Bernard Bediako, overturning a seat previously held by the NPP.