Kennedy Agyapong slams Bawumia’s 2024 performance, warns NPP against rewarding “abysmal” performer with another chance:

Former Member of Parliament for the Asin Central and NPP flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has urged members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to resist any narrative suggesting that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is entitled to another chance as flagbearer, arguing that the party’s history demonstrates a commitment to rewarding strong electoral performance, not failure.

Speaking to party members in Asante Mampong during a visit to mourn the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Mr Agyapong addressed the crucial issue of the NPP’s direction and future leadership. He stated unequivocally that the NPP does not offer multiple chances to those who lead the party to poor electoral outcomes.

Kennedy Agyapong highlighted the NPP’s long-standing tradition of backing candidates who demonstrate significant electoral strength. He pointedly remarked that Dr. Bawumia’s leadership in the 2024 general election resulted in what he termed an “abysmal” performance for the party, leaving no justification for a second endorsement.

Dismissing the idea that the NPP routinely grants multiple opportunities to presidential candidates regardless of performance, Agyapong cited historical precedents. He referenced the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, a pivotal figure in Ghana’s democratic transition, who was not given a second chance after the 1992 elections, despite his immense contributions to the party.

“Prof. Adu Boahen was a pioneer in resisting military dictatorship and played a significant role in the re-emergence of multiparty democracy,” Agyapong stated. “Yet, after his defeat in 1992, he was replaced. That tells you that our party is serious about performance.”

Agyapong contrasted this with the cases of former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who were granted subsequent candidacies based on their strong performances in previous elections. He specifically pointed out that Kuffuor’s performance was impressive enough to earn him another chance in 2000. “Kufuor had only a few months to campaign in 1996, yet his performance was impressive enough to earn him another chance in 2000. That is the NPP’s standard of performance,” he said.

Agyapong’s comments, which implicitly criticize Dr. Bawumia’s leadership during the narrow and contested 2024 election loss, are poised to ignite further debate within the NPP regarding succession and accountability.

By framing his argument around the party’s history and emphasizing the importance of electoral success, Agyapong is reinforcing his position as a voice for reform and realism within the NPP, advocating that loyalty must be earned through demonstrable results, not simply granted.