A leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, has backed calls by some elements within the party to halt its ongoing ‘Thank You’ tour.
He says the activity was poorly planned and not carefully considered, comparing it with previous tours embarked by leadership of the party after major elections.
Citing series of events that have characterised the exercise since it began, the former flag bearer aspirant of the NPP says the tour is shredding the integrity of the party.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Thursday, May 1, 2025, Dr. Kennedy indicated that the tour should take a break to save the face of the party.
“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.
“You just announced that the National Chairman has taken a break. Maybe the National Chairman shouldn’t take a break. The tour should take a break,” he stated emphatically.
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 following the stabbing incident.
Prior to Dr. Kennedy’s call, a senior figure in the party, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, had already raised concerns and warned that the tour was 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 cohesion 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 things were not properly planned going into the tour, the reason things have turned the way they are now.
Rename ‘Thank You Tour’ as ‘Unity Tour’ – Political scientist tells NPP
