Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has cautioned that the party risks remaining in opposition for 12 more years if it allows Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, its 2024 presidential candidate, to lead the party again into the 2028 general elections.
Speaking during his campaign tour of the Savannah Region, the former outspoken Assin Central MP urged delegates to reject calls for a second chance for any candidate who led the party into electoral defeat.
“They will come and tell you, give us a second chance, because President Kufour went two times, and Akufo-Addo went three times,” Agyapong said.
“But because they want to deceive you, Adu Boahen went only once. Why are they not mentioning Adu Boahen’s name? Because when Adu Boahen did not perform well, they didn’t give him a second chance.”
He stressed that Dr. Bawumia’s poor showing in the 2024 general election, where the NPP’s votes dropped drastically from 6.7 million in 2020 to 4.8 million, was a clear signal that the party needed fresh leadership to rebuild public trust and win back support.
“But from 6.17 million votes, you reduce it by 2.1 million votes, and now you want a second chance?” Agyapong asked.
“It means he’s asking you to stay in your position for 12 years, if that is what you are. Even these 9 months, you see how you are sweating? So you can imagine if somebody tells you, give me another chance, and it will take you the next 12 years.”
The maverick politician said the grassroots were yearning for a candidate who could deliver victory, not one who would lead the party to another loss.
“When we are in Salaga market, they will tell you, if you bring Kennedy Agyapong we are going to vote for you. When we are in the bus, they will tell you, if you bring Kennedy Agyapong, we will vote for you. Beer bar, bring Kennedy Agyapong, we will vote for you. What else do we want? Do we just want a flag bearer who will go and lose, or do we want a flag bearer who can win?” he quizzed.
The NPP, which lost the 2024 general elections to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been reeling from its worst defeat in years.
The party’s presidential votes dropped by over 1.8 million, while the NDC’s tally rose by nearly 400,000 — a development many analysts have described as a wake-up call for internal reform.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
