Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer has attributed his party’s defeat in the constituency to what he described as the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) strong propaganda campaign, which resonated with voters.

Speaking on Joy FM after his loss, Mercer lamented that the NDC successfully propagated a narrative that undermined the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) achievements in Sekondi, painting a picture of 28 years of stagnation under NPP MPs.

“The NDC propaganda was very strong, and people are not sufficiently savvy to distinguish between the term when you’ve always had an NPP MP and an NDC president, and the term when you had an NPP MP and an NDC president,” Mr Mercer explained.

He stated that during the years when Sekondi had an NPP MP, the presidency was often under NDC control, making it challenging for MPs to implement projects.

“During those 28 years, Jerry Rawlings was president, Prof Mills became president, and Mister Mahama became president. And they did nothing in Sekondi.

"Of course, during that time, Papa Owusu Ankomah was MP,” Mercer argued, noting that voters failed to distinguish the limited powers of MPs and the executive authority of the presidency.

Despite efforts to counter this narrative, Mercer admitted it was difficult to undo the damage. “You push back, but then it’s already stuck in people’s minds. They keep saying, ‘You’ve been MP for so many years; what have you done?’”

He cited ongoing projects like the redevelopment of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital and road construction in the constituency as evidence of the NPP’s commitment.

However, these achievements were overshadowed by the NDC’s messaging, Mercer said.