First-Time Voter Strategy Won 50% for Bawumia

Outgoing NPP National Youth Organiser Salam Mustapha says the party's investment in first-time voter engagement paid off, with then-candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia securing more than 50% support among that group in the 2024 election.

Mustapha shared the reflection in a post as he prepares to leave his role as National Youth Organiser.

He said his team started planning early, beginning work with about a year and a half left before the election.

"I took office one and half year to the end of the tenure of the sitting president and we were attempting to break the eight. We gathered so much data and began to work," he said.

Mustapha said understanding voter behaviour was central to the strategy, and first-time voters became one of the main areas of focus.

"One detailed work we did was first-time voters. We projected our figures and made our target," he said.

He said research available to the party pointed to a strong showing for Bawumia among those voting for the first time.

"I saw two research materials that show our candidate performed over 50% amongst first-time voters. In fact, Mussa Dankwa puts his figure at 56% of first-time voters for DMB," he said.

Mustapha also spoke about the youth wing's part in the party's parliamentary campaign.

Photo: mynewsgh.com

He pointed to the election of the Regional Youth Organiser for the North East Region as Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga.

He described it as the first time a serving youth wing officer had won a parliamentary seat.

"The National Youth Wing was deliberate in its actions and support for our Regional Youth Organiser in the North East Region and today, he's our MP," Mustapha said.

He said his team supported young people with logistics such as motorbikes, jerseys and footballs, adding that some of the equipment was funded from his own pocket.

Mustapha acknowledged that the party lost the 2024 election, but he said the outcome did not reflect the quality of the work done.

"We may not have won the last elections, it doesn't mean we're not good, but dynamics and seasons are formidable opponents," he said.

His comments come as the NPP reviews its performance following the loss and prepares for internal changes, including new appointments within its youth wing.

Source: MyNewsG