Former Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has firmly ruled out any intention to contest elections as an independent candidate following his defeat in the New Patriotic Party flagbearer race to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
While reiterating his loyalty to the party, Mr Agyapong openly criticized what he described as betrayal and deep personal disrespect from individuals he once supported within the NPP.
Speaking in an interview after the conclusion of the internal contest, former Assin Central MP and two-time flagbearer aspirant for opposition NPP rejected suggestions from sections of the public urging him to break away from the party.
“Because going into that contest, I knew, and I said to myself, that it’s 50-50. You can win, you can lose. So if you lose, why would you say that I’m going independent? No, I will not do that to my party”.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, NPP Flagbearer Aspirant
For him, losing a competitive primary did not justify abandoning the party, especially when the possibility of defeat had been clear from the outset. Mr Agyapong, who noted that he would turn 64 this year, emphasized the importance of dignity and respect in political life.
He said age and experience should count for something, particularly within a party where he has invested significant resources and effort over the years. While he said he would allow others to pursue their political ambitions, he made it clear that he would not accept being treated with contempt or dismissed as irrelevant.
Reflection on Trust in Politics
Reflecting on the experience, the former Assin Central MP said the contest had reshaped his understanding of trust in politics. He stated bluntly that he no longer trusts politicians, arguing that power often changes people.
According to him, some individuals he helped to rise within the party later turned against him in order to secure or protect their own positions. That realization, he said, was the most painful lesson from the election.
Mr Agyapong was careful to distinguish between political disagreement and personal betrayal. He said he had no issue with party members or MPs who freely chose to support Dr Bawumia, stressing that everyone was entitled to their preference.
However, his anger, he explained, was directed at people he regarded as close allies, individuals who benefited directly from his support and later made derogatory remarks about him during the campaign.
“Like I said, you know, if you support Dr. Bawumia, it’s your choice. I don’t have a problem. If you don’t, it’s your choice. Again, anybody that I have not helped, and through his own efforts, came to parliament, if he even insults me, I don’t have a problem.
“But I have a problem with people that I helped. Some of them became ministers. Some of them became MPs. Through my efforts, and they were the people who were making derogatory statements about me.”
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, NPP Flagbearer Aspirant
Responding to claims that he was bitter over losing the contest, Mr Agyapong rejected the idea that his reaction was driven by disappointment alone. He pointed out that he was financially independent and did not depend on political office for survival.
Bitter at Betrayal
However, he openly admitted to feeling bitter about what he described as personal insults from people he had helped. He said the bitterness had nothing to do with Dr Bawumia’s victory but rather with the conduct of former allies who crossed what he considered an unforgivable line.
He said he could easily overlook criticism from people who had risen through their own efforts, even if they insulted him. What troubled him deeply, he explained, was hearing disparaging comments from individuals whose political careers he had personally supported.
In his view, disagreement was acceptable, but public insults from such people were not. That, he said, was why forgiveness would not come easily. Mr Agyapong also questioned what he described as selective calls for reconciliation within the party.
He suggested that while supporters of other defeated aspirants were allegedly sidelined, he was being urged to forgive and move on without acknowledgment of the wrongs done to him. He said he would not pretend that nothing had happened simply to create a superficial sense of unity.
On whether he had confronted those he felt betrayed by, the former MP indicated that the responsibility lay with them to approach him. He said anyone who sincerely accepted fault and came forward would receive a direct response.
He dismissed labels portraying him as rude, arguing that his openness was often misunderstood. In his view, people who insulted him and later sought reconciliation underestimated his resolve and intelligence.
Mr Agyapong concluded by reaffirming his commitment to speaking his mind regardless of political consequences. He said politics is transient and no individual is indispensable, noting that if he were gone tomorrow, others would take his place.
For that reason, he explained, he preferred honesty over silence. While he ruled out an independent bid and maintained his membership in the NPP, his remarks highlighted lingering tensions that the party may need to address as it works toward unity after a fiercely contested flagbearer race.
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