Journalist Paul Adom Otchere has urged members of the New Patriotic Party to withhold their criticism and give room for the new, Mahama-led administration to settle into office.

He says criticising the new administration for every step it takes, including circling perceived grammatical errors in on official press releases cannot be the NPP’s approach to constructive criticism of the government.

Criticisms after May, June or July may be proper, he suggested, saying with less than a month in government and still nominating persons into the administration, the criticisms have come too early.

He was sharing what he called his 'small advice' to the NPP during the debut episode of the Good Evening Ghana podcast on Metro TV.

According to Adom Otchere, while the results of the December 7, 2024 election surprised many, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were taken aback not just by their defeat, but by the magnitude of the loss. Since then, there has been considerable discussion within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP parties regarding the outcome.

He said following the election, conversations within the NPP have included concerns about the candidacy of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, with some questioning whether he should run again due to the scale of his defeat.

He said others have attributed the loss to various factors, including the choice of running mate and voter turnout. “There is a general perception that many NPP supporters in their strongholds such as the Eastern and Ashanti regions did not participate in the election, possibly influenced by economic challenges and dissatisfaction within the party.”

He said it is evident from historical electoral trends that political fortunes can change swiftly. “In 2016, the NDC suffered what was then the heaviest electoral defeat in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.” However, within just four years, the NPP’s parliamentary majority was significantly reduced, leading to an evenly split Parliament. Similar shifts occurred in past elections, such as in 1996 and 2004, demonstrating the fluid nature of Ghanaian politics.

At this moment, the NPP is advised to take a strategic approach rather than engaging in continuous public criticism of the NDC government. Observing and documenting developments systematically will be crucial for effective opposition. The party should focus on gathering information and analyzing the government's actions before making substantial political statements. Premature and excessive criticism could weaken their position, he said.

According to Paul, the NPP retains strong leadership within Parliament, as demonstrated by figures such as Patricia Appiah-Agyei, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and Lawyer Joe Ghartey. Their contributions in the Appointments Committee and other parliamentary activities showcase the party’s ongoing influence.

He said rather than responding to every issue immediately, the NPP should adopt a measured approach. Monitoring government decisions from January through mid-year will provide a clearer picture of governance trends. By maintaining a record of key actions taken by the NDC government, the NPP can present a well-structured critique when the time is appropriate.

He also cautioned on internal party activities, including leadership campaigns, which he said should be managed discreetly to maintain party unity and that premature jostling for positions may create unnecessary distractions.

He said political engagement should be structured and strategic, ensuring that when the time comes for opposition work, it is executed responsibly and effectively.