Ghanaian rapper Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, popularly known as M.anifest, has shared his thoughts on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) loss in the December 7, 2024 election.
Speaking to James Copnall on BBC’s Newsday on December 9, 2024, M.anifest attributed the NPP’s defeat to widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s governance.
“I think what happened in this election was that people were unhappy that the country was being run down,” he said.
When asked about the potential of the incoming government to address Ghana’s issues, M.anifest stated, “It’s difficult to be confident in any leadership here until you see how they operate. In our local parlance, we say’show working’… So I think there is a level of accountability that we as citizens are going to hold him [John Mahama] and any other leaders to at this point.”
M.anifest highlighted the role of activism over the past four years, noting that the youth, in particular, have been vocal about issues like illegal mining and unemployment.
“If you saw in the last administration, the youth especially took to the streets. There were protests about illegal mining and so many other things. I think Ghanaians especially the young people who are most affected, unemployment is high, twice as much in the youth in Ghana. I think they are beginning to express their voice more frequently. We don’t wait for every four years to express that voice through votes. I do think there is a sense of everyday accountability that we are moving towards. That there is a sense of urgency that people feel,” he added.
He also pointed out that dissatisfaction is not limited to the youth, mentioning that pensioners have also protested in recent years.
Although the Electoral Commission of Ghana has yet to officially announce the results of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections, NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has conceded defeat to former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a public address from his residence, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the provisional results from the party’s internal collation, which indicated a victory for Mahama, and expressed his gratitude to Ghanaians for the opportunity to serve.
The Electoral Commission has urged citizens to patiently wait for the official results.
