The spokesperson for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s campaign team, Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, has stated that the endorsement of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by 63 members of parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is only a showmanship seeking to sway delegates.
Mr. Kwarteng stated that there is an attempt by some members of parliament and former appointees of the immediate past government to exert their influence on the upcoming presidential primaries, with the hopes that such could sway the polling station executives towards their preferred candidate.
The New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries is set to be held on January 31, 2026, with contesting candidates Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former vice president; Dr. Yaw Osei Odutwum, former minister for education; Dr. Bryan Acheampong, former minister for agriculture; Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former member of parliament for Assin Central; and Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, former general secretary of the NPP.
Speaking after the said group of members of parliament had held a press conference to declare their support for the former vice president, Mr. Kwarteng noted with dismay why his party members would decide to hold such a press conference at a time a revered former first lady had just passed on.
“I thought today would have been a solemn moment, at least to mourn the passing of our late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. But unfortunately, the MPs on our side felt it was politics as usual and demonstrated a high display of insensitivity. And if you like, disrespect to the former First Lady and her family, at least they could have waited for maybe till tomorrow and made the supposed declaration.”
Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, Spokesperson for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s campaign team
Mr. Kwarteng seized the moment to formally express the condolences of Kennedy Agyapong’s team to the Rawlings family, praying peace and strength for them in this difficult moment.
However, Mr. Kwarteng emphasized that the actions of the members of parliament further affirmed their team’s conviction that the real contest is between the over 200,000 polling station executives and former government appointees, who mostly neglected the grassroots of the party while in government.
He further stated that “the Kennedy Agyapong base and support have always been with the polling station executives, the grassroots.”
“Of course, when it comes to the former ministers, and the former appointees, and the former and current MPs, who also want to have control over the party hierarchy. And maybe some way, somehow, to extend their dominance in 2028 and beyond. I mean, they are also standing on the one side. But you and I agree that sovereignty resides in the people.”
Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, Spokesperson for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s campaign team
Mr. Kwarteng expressed the campaign team’s confidence in the 200,000 delegates, who he believes are not happy with the current state and direction of the New Patriotic Party.
“We’ve got 200,000 delegates, polling station executives who believe that even in the spirit of revival and in the interest of party harmony and the interest of party unity, there ought to be a new candidate. of course, a bold one, not a weak one.”
Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, Spokesperson for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s campaign team
He emphasized that these polling station executives are yearning for change and believe that Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is the right candidate.
However, despite the confidence expressed, he emphasized that they hoped the delegates will not be distracted by the action of the MPs, which he describes as “political showmanship and political astroturfing that we witness day in day out almost being turned out for us almost every month.”
Mr. Kwarteng stated that those actions are just about “influence peddling and political stratification” targeted at influencing the delegates, noting that even though members of parliament are also part of the electoral college, each member has just one vote.
However, Mr. Kwarteng emphasized that he was not downplaying the influence of the members of parliament, but in the circumstance of the state of the NPP, where the grassroots are looking for change, the endorsement by the MPs will not have any effect on the outcome of the presidential primaries.
“This declaration will not make any impact on 31st January 2026. And I am so confident that even what has just happened will even anger the polling station the most.”
Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, Spokesperson for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s campaign team
He therefore emphasized that despite this endorsement, the delegates will vote in the direction of ‘truth,’ a vote that will reflect the change they need, a vote for Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
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