Former Railways Development Minister and ex–Member of Parliament for Hohoe, John Peter Amewu, has described his failure to secure re-election for a second parliamentary term as difficult to explain, citing broader national factors that worked against his party.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Amewu said research ahead of the polls suggested he was on course to retain his seat, but acknowledged that voters may have seen qualities in his opponent that influenced their choice. “In the minds of the electorate, they may see something quite different in the other candidate that I may not have,” he said, adding that his defeat reflected the will of the people.
Responding to questions about whether governance under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo affected his fortunes, Mr Amewu said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration started strongly after taking office in 2017. However, he noted that subsequent economic challenges significantly altered voter sentiment.
He described the economic downturn, perceptions of weak leadership and allegations of corruption as “swing factors” that heavily shaped voting patterns nationwide. According to him, such factors account for between 60 and 70 per cent of electoral outcomes in Ghana and cut across constituencies.
Mr Amewu said these pressures led to widespread losses for the NPP, with many incumbent MPs voted out alongside the party’s presidential candidate. “Several indicators were the causes of our losses in the election,” he said, stressing that his rejection at the polls was part of a broader national trend rather than an isolated constituency issue.
He maintained that electoral outcomes must ultimately be respected as a reflection of the electorate’s judgement.