Spending $58m on National Cathedral played role in NPP’s defeat – Bawumia

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer,  has partly connected the party’s loss in the 2024 general election to the controversy surrounding the National Cathedral project and a sudden rise in fuel costs.

In his speech in Takoradi at the beginning of a nationwide “Thank You Tour”, Dr. Bawumia reacted to the allegations that’s leaking from the Mike Oquaye Committee findings, which indicated that his perceived faith “flirting” contributed to the party’s election loss.

Dr. Bawumia  rejected the allegations, instead focusing on practical economic and governance challenges. As per him, the unfinished National Cathedral project, which had already consumed $58 million in public funds, markedly reduced public trust and stoked voter anger.

He also cited the increase in fuel cost  just three days before the election as another key factor that drove voters away from the NPP, insisting that religion or cultural affiliations did not contribute to the loss.  Dr Bawumia stated that “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.”

Dr. Bawumia’s highlights come at a time when internal party debates heating up around the causes of the 2024 electoral outcome, with many stakeholders demanding transparency to reposition the NPP for the future.

He added that “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.”

READ: Company Driver and Accomplices Arrested for Gold Robbery; Police Seize Guns and Cash