Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a 2024 flag bearer aspirant of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged party members not to trade performance for sympathy.
He says the party’s history shows it has always chosen hard work, results, and accountability over blind loyalty.
According to Mr. Agyapong, the NPP has never made it a practice to reward poor performance with a second chance, particularly in the selection of its presidential candidate.
During an encounter with some party faithful at Mampong during the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu’s funeral on Saturday, June 7, 2025, Ken Agyapong noted that people who don’t perform when given an opportunity aren’t granted second chances in the party.
“The NPP doesn’t give second chances to candidates who fail to deliver. We didn’t do it for Adu Boahen, and we shouldn’t do it now,” Ken Agyapong stated.
His comments were seen as an indirect jab at the party’s 2024 flag bearer and former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who had put up an abysmal performance during the December 2024 elections.
Citing the case of former President Kufuor, Ken Agyapong noted that the party gave him another opportunity due to his performance, not sentiment or incumbency.
“Even President Kufuor had to impress in 1996 before being given another shot in 2000. Nana Addo also proved himself before his eventual win,” he stated.
In contrast, he mentioned the party’s 1992 flag bearer, the late Prof. Adu Boahen, who despite his significant contribution to Ghana’s democratic struggle, was not given another chance by the party after his first attempt. “That tells you the NPP rewards performance, not sympathy,” he said.
Following the NPP’s defeat in the December 2024 elections, the party is making attempts to reorganise and come back stronger for the next election.
While some members are advocating for Dr. Bawumia to be given another chance, others believe his performance was unimpressive and shouldn’t be considered for the next general election.
In the December 2024 presidential polls, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won by securing 6,591,790 votes, representing 56.42% of valid ballots cast. His closest contender, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), polled 4,877,611 votes, amounting to 41.75%.
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