A stalwart of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, has stated that the party’s ‘Thank You’ tour was poorly planned, which is causing disunity among members instead of fostering unity.
He is certain the activity was not carefully considered, with recourse to previous tours embarked by leadership of the party after major elections.
According to him, “this one for some reason has been characterised by undue rancor, exchange of fisticuffs and finally a stabbing. It doesn’t seem as if it is doing our reputation any good.”
“I actually think that the ‘Thank You’ tour was a little ill-conceived from the beginning,” he said on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Thursday, May 1, 2025.
The party launched the ‘Thank You’ tour in the wake of its election loss, aiming to engage with supporters across the country. However, tensions within the party have escalated in recent weeks, with some members openly expressing dissatisfaction over the handling of the post-election period.
The exercise has turned bloody, with alleged supporters from one camp stabbing another amid heated exchanges that have characterized the exercise since its inception.
These developments led to the withdrawal of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a 2024 flag bearer aspirant of the party, who cited concerns over supporter safety due to the stabbing incident.
Following the confusion that has marred the tour, a senior figure in the party, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, raised concerns and warned that the tour is veering off course and risking further divisions within the party.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 27, 2025, Agyarko said the initiative, originally designed to reconnect with grassroots supporters and restore the NPP’s public image following its 2024 election defeat, was instead being overshadowed by internal discord and blame-shifting.
“What was intended to restore our party’s shine and reconnect us with the grassroots is instead unraveling into bouts of discord, blame-shifting, and internal strife,” Agyarko said.
He warned that unless steps were taken to correct the trajectory, the tour could inflict “serious collateral damage” on the party’s unity and reputation.
The former Energy Minister and flag bearer aspirant of the NPP called on the party leadership to act swiftly, urging a reassessment of the tour’s approach to prioritise genuine reconciliation and solidarity.
“It is time to apply the brakes and reassess the direction of the Thank You Tour. We must pull back from what increasingly looks like an imminent collision course,” he said.
Mr Agyarko had reemphasised the need for the party leadership to institute measures to preserve the dignity and cohesion of the party, that a recalibrated strategy was necessary to preserve the dignity and unity of the party, stressing the need to use the opportunity to “renew our collective resolve” and honour the NPP’s legacy.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Kennedy noted that the tour was not properly planned going into the tour, the reason things have turned the way they are now.
‘Bawumia can do his campaign’ – Ken Agyapong says as he pulls out of NPP’s ‘Thank You’ tour
