Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has advised all the aspirants not to engage in actions that could undermine the party if they are unsuccessful in the flagbearer elections.
He emphasized that while it may not always be easy to forgive and forget the bitter criticisms that come with losing an election, it is an integral aspect of the electoral process.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang urged everyone to prioritize the safeguarding of the party’s unity and integrity.
“I am very much aware that forgiving and forgetting the most unpalatable abuses in losing an election is not always easy, there may be further ridicules and challenges along the way. This is the nature of all elections but we shouldn’t allow the severest pain to break us, this is the only way our party can remain relevant in this changing political landscape.
“We should remember that November 4 will come and go and remain only as a memory but the NPP, if we do not allow our action to destroy will exist for long time to come.”
Hackman Owusu-Agyemang
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang, the former Member of Parliament for New Juabeng, made these statements during a gathering with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other leaders of the NPP, alongside the flagbearer aspirants on Thursday, November 2, ahead of the party’s internal elections.
The meeting also saw the presence of the National Chair of the NPP, Stephen Ntim, and the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor participated via Zoom.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong, former Member of Parliament for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh, and former Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto were also in attendance at the meeting.
95% NPP MPs To Vote For Bawumia
Meanwhile, Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, disclosed that an overwhelming 95% of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislators support the candidacy of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming internal elections on November 4.
He expressed confidence that Dr. Bawumia would secure a substantial victory, emphasizing that the percentage of his expected win has continued to rise.
“I must be honest with you, now our focus is on uniting the party, we know it is a forgone decision, Dr Bawumia is going to win hands-down. It used to be around 80%, now it has moved higher, and now we are doing like 95% of MPs who clearly believe rallying behind the Vice President, that is what it is, it could even get better on the D-Day.
“I have spoken to many of our colleagues, I think it is looking extremely good. Our focus now is to ensure that after Saturday we progress into a united front, close ranks get our party rank and file motivated, and rally behind our leader.”
Frank Annoh-Dompreh
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, similarly projected a victory for Dr. Bawumia. He expressed his belief that Dr. Bawumia’s main rival, Kennedy Agyapong, is unlikely to secure more than 20% of the total votes cast, adding that Agyapong might not even achieve 15% in the Ashanti Region.
Emphasizing Dr. Bawumia’s strong grasp of economics, he deemed him the most suitable candidate to enact positive changes in the country’s economic landscape.
The upcoming NPP internal elections on Saturday, November 4, will witness the selection of the party’s leader for the 2024 General Elections, with over 200,000 delegates anticipated to determine the fate of the four candidates vying for the position.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto are among the contenders in the race, with several polls currently positioning the Vice President as the frontrunner with a significant margin.
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