Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a prominent figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and leading member of Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign team, has sharpened his criticism of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential campaign message while simultaneously rallying the people of Akwatia to honour the late Ernest Kumi through a peaceful by-election.
His dual message – calling for a unifying flagbearer and cautioning against electoral violence – comes as the NPP faces not only an internal leadership contest but also a high-stakes constituency by-election viewed as a test of strength between Ghana’s two dominant political forces.
Taking issue with the former Vice President’s campaign messaging, Dr. Boakye-Danquah questioned the logic underpinning the “9% pe” slogan that has become central to Dr. Bawumia’s push for the NPP 2028 flagbearership.
“This morning I have been careful not to talk about the ‘9% pe’ that is left because you are not too sure whether some of the comments are voodoo analysis, scientific or unscientific”
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Seasoned NPP Politician
The “9% pe” argument is premised on the belief that since the NPP polled 41 percent of the national vote in the 2024 elections, the party requires only nine additional points to reclaim power in 2028. Dr. Boakye-Danquah, however, stressed that this logic is misleading.
He pointed out that Bawumia’s performance in the last election represented the lowest presidential tally relative to the combined votes of NPP parliamentary candidates in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
“We have not even finished with our primaries, and you are assuming you will win the primaries, and for that reason, it is left with ‘9% pe’,” he said, adding that Bawumia’s record exposed deeper challenges for the party.
For Dr. Boakye-Danquah, the NPP’s path forward requires more than electoral arithmetic, hinged on questionable logic and calculations.
It demands a flagbearer capable of uniting the party’s parliamentary aspirants and grassroots base. He argued that only such leadership could rebuild cohesion within the ruling party after the bruising 2024 defeat.
This position reinforces the Agyapong camp’s broader critique of the former Vice President’s candidacy while laying out a case for stronger, more inclusive internal leadership now more than ever for the NPP.
Akwatia By-Election
Beyond the flagbearer race, Dr. Boakye-Danquah has been active on the ground in Akwatia, where the NPP’s Solomon Asumadu is contesting against the NDC’s Bernard Bediako in a by-election triggered by the passing of Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Ernest Kumi.
“We plead with the constituency that a better way of remembering and honouring his legacy is ensuring that Solomon Asumadu becomes the next MP for Akwatia,” he stated, urging voters to honour the late MP’s memory by ensuring the seat remains under NPP control.
He clarified that the call was not for sympathy votes but a reaffirmation of the mandate Hon. Kumi secured before his sudden passing. “We were in court until the final declaration before his sudden passing. That alone is a clear indication that they should give the seat back to the NPP.”
The politician also issued a strong caution regarding the conduct of security forces during the by-election, warning that the presence of masked operatives could stoke fears and suspicions. “Akwatia by-election will be clear and transparent if the police come out unmasked,” he cautioned, stressing that concealment could give room for infiltration by groups bent on causing violence.
He underscored that elections were not occasions for conflict but rather instruments of representation and called on all stakeholders to observe security protocols for a smooth and successful election.
Polling Data Suggests Close Contest
Meanwhile, independent surveys suggest the Akwatia by-election will be fiercely contested. Global Info Analytics and Sanity Africa have released projections indicating a slim lead for the NDC candidate.
Sanity Africa’s survey, conducted between August 1 and 27 with 1,568 voters, placed Bernard Bediako of the NDC at 52.3 percent against NPP’s Solomon Asumadu’s 47.7 percent. The findings highlighted unemployment, economic hardship, and access to social amenities as the key issues shaping voter sentiment.
Educated voters leaned heavily toward the NDC candidate, while Asumadu’s strongest support base appeared to come from the unemployed and informal workers, particularly those connected to small-scale mining.
Although the polls favour Bediako, the margin of less than five percentage points suggests that undecided voters could swing the outcome either way. For the NPP, figures like Palgrave Boakye-Danquah believe that invoking legacy, unity, and peace may yet tilt the contest.
As Akwatia heads to the ballot on September 2nd, the clash of numbers, narratives, and memories makes this by-election not just a constituency affair but also a stage-setting moment for the 2028 general election and the NPP’s internal future.
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