Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, immediate past Member of Parliament for Assin Central and a leading contender in the 2023 NPP flagbearership race, has issued a strong caution to party leadership and grassroots members.
He has urged them to avoid rushing into electing a presidential candidate without first fixing the internal fractures that caused the party’s 2024 electoral defeat.
Speaking at a strategic meeting of the NPP Constituency Chairmen Association in Kumasi on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Hon. Agyapong emphasized that a deep and honest assessment of the party’s failure is essential before any new flagbearer is chosen.
“We formed the Mike Oquaye Committee to conduct a fact-finding mission and produce credible findings. But as we sit here, those who need to understand the real causes of our defeat still don’t. All we’ve been told is that we lost because of ‘expansion.’ Is that all? Is that enough to explain the scale of our loss? Absolutely not. The issues remain unresolved,” he stated.
He warned that any attempt to fast-track the flagbearer selection process would be dangerously premature and could undermine the party’s efforts at genuine renewal.
“Let me be brutally frank: If we don’t resolve our internal problems, even if we bring Jesus Christ as our presidential candidate, we will still lose 2028. We need to know exactly what went wrong so that those of us going to campaign know what message to give the people,” he stressed.
Hon. Agyapong said that the party’s structural framework isn’t the problem, but rather, it’s the unchecked behavior of individuals within the structure—people he referred to as “monsters” who abuse power and eliminate dissent.
“The structure from polling stations to national is okay. What is wrong is the mindset of those we have empowered. We’ve created monsters—people who think they own the party and can victimize anyone who disagrees. That must stop.”
He also criticized the lack of collective ownership of decisions within the party. According to him, unless there’s a shared understanding of the problems, even good decisions will fail.
“If we all agree on what caused our defeat and work together to fix it, then we’ll also take collective responsibility for our future. But if we rush into decisions for selfish interest, it will come back to haunt us. Let’s not make 2028 another experiment.”
The former flagbearer aspirant further bemoaned the low level of financial transparency and support within the party. He revealed that only two individuals contributed financially to the chairmen’s meeting, despite its huge budget.
“Only two people contributed to today’s event. Where are the rest? Have we solved all these issues? Why are we rushing to the top when the base is broken?”
He expressed concern that some chairmen and members were coerced into supporting certain candidates during the last internal contest and were later sidelined or victimized—leading to disillusionment across the grassroots.
“Let’s admit it—we were part of our own downfall. Most of you were pushed to follow a line you didn’t believe in. Today, some of you are being ignored or replaced. Tomorrow, it could be someone else. Let’s fix this system before we crown another candidate.”
Ending on a note of commitment and hope, Hon. Agyapong pledged to fully support the rebuilding of the party—financially and morally—if the right steps are taken.
“If we do what’s right, I will help raise the needed funds. Even if I don’t have the money, I can make one call and raise $7 million for the party. But I won’t be part of another blind race toward defeat. Let’s first clean the house.”
He concluded with a call to action for party leaders to begin reform from the grassroots, particularly by ensuring transparent and fair polling station elections, before contemplating the 2028 presidential ticket.
“Let’s start with the polling stations. That’s the base. Until we get that right, forget any dreams of victory in 2028.”
Enock Akonnor is a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, serving as CEO and Managing Editor for www.leakyghana.com. His gravitas, which is mirrored by many years of proven and enviable experience in the field of journalism has positioned him among the most sort after media practitioners in Ghana.
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Email: enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
