Former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, has opened up about the role of voter apathy and internal divisions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the party’s loss during the 2008 general elections.

Reflecting on the election results, Kufuor expressed his disappointment that the NPP failed to secure a victory, blaming the party's internal fractures for its defeat.

Speaking to morning show hosts at his residence, Kufuor highlighted how some party chairmen worked against certain Members of Parliament, leading them to contest as independents.

"Some chairmen connived to remove some Members of Parliament, and these persons contested as independents, and that affected us greatly. We lost, I think, eighteen seats, and that did not help us as a political party.

"If we want to win the election and continue the great policies to ensure continuity, we must vote massively for a first-round win. It was worrying that we lost in 2008. We won the first round but lost the second round. At that time, most people who did not vote realized they had to vote; it was too late.

The former president stressed that the key to winning future elections and ensuring the continuity of successful policies is a strong voter turnout.

He recalled the tense 2008 election, in which the NPP won the first round but lost in the second round.

"The NDC came with a different vision, and so some of the things we started were left to rot because they did not believe in our policies. We planned to dualize the Accra and Kumasi roads, but it did not see the light of day.

"We took an interest-free loan from the Chinese to dualize the road and construct the Nsawam bypass; we constructed the Suhum road to Apedwa, but the ones that were left when we left power, the NDC did not touch them and did nothing about them," he said.

The former president concluded with a stark warning about the dangers of voter apathy.

"So during elections, if you say you won't vote, the others will vote, so please avoid voter apathy and vote massively so that your party can win. If you don't vote, you will be left in slavery," he said.

Kufuor also reflected on the NDC's approach after their victory in 2008, which he claimed led to the abandonment of several policies and projects initiated by the NPP.

Kufuor’s comments come at a crucial time as the country prepares for another round of elections, with political leaders and citizens alike being urged to turn out in full force to secure the nation’s progress.