Member of Parliament for Guan, Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, has strongly criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its post-election posture, accusing the party of lacking credibility and internal unity.
He insisted that until the party addresses its deep internal fractures, it cannot hope to re-engage Ghanaians meaningfully or recover from its 2024 electoral defeat.
Agbenyo challenged the authenticity of the NPP’s recent nationwide engagements, questioning whether they were genuine thank-you tours or disguised intra-party meetings. He stressed that any meaningful political comeback must begin with an internal reconciliation involving all major stakeholders, particularly those sidelined in recent years.
“So the first thing they should have done is to sit down in the office and call Bawumia, call Kennedy, call Arthur Kennedy, call all those big guys, including the former chairman that they forcefully pushed out of the party, Paul Afoko and the second vice chair, Sammy Crabbe”.
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He argued that these figures hold considerable influence and public support and must be involved in any serious attempt at reform. “They are the kingpins, they are the big boys. They are the people who have the following.”
Agbenyo was adamant that without such reconciliation, the party’s outreach efforts risk deepening existing wounds instead of healing them. In his view, the current public tours are premature and disorganised.
“If the people who say they are going to do a thank you tour have not been able to resolve their issues in-house and they move out there, how on earth are they going to be able to reconcile the people they’re going to meet?”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He expressed dismay at the visible tensions among party figures, noting that subtle jabs at one another during public events only damage the NPP’s image further.
The Bawumia Element
Turning to the party’s 2024 flagbearer, Agbenyo said Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had erred in not stepping aside after serving as Vice President under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He reiterated advice he claimed to have given Bawumia well before the elections.
“I advised him before the 2024 elections, that ‘Alhaji Bawumia, exit with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, go and stay somewhere – you can go and do some consultancy, some lectureship, whatever you want to do with yourself… let one term pass, let two terms pass and then come back… by which time, Ghanaians would have forgotten most of the things that you did’”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
According to Agbenyo, distancing himself from the Akufo-Addo legacy would have allowed Bawumia time to rebuild his reputation and credibility, qualities he believes are now severely diminished.
“You need credibility to win an election. Nana Addo has shown us that even at 74, 75, you can win an election and be president. Bawumia is barely sixty”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He argued that Bawumia’s credibility problem stems from years of public contradictions and broken promises, pointing to the internet as a record of his political inconsistencies. “Go on the internet and google Alhaji Bawumia. Everything is driven by perception and the perception out there is that it doesn’t speak the truth.”
Looking ahead to the NPP’s future, Agbenyo made a bold prediction about the party’s 2028 flagbearer race.
“I’m not a prophet of doom but I can tell you that the person leading NPP 2028 elections is none other than Kennedy Agyapong and not Alhaji Bawumia, mark it on the wall”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He based his forecast on Kennedy Agyapong’s growing grassroots support and public perception as a more independent and relatable figure.
National Cathedral Proposal
Agbenyo also offered advice to President John Dramani Mahama regarding the stalled National Cathedral project. He suggested that the land be repurposed for residential apartments to address the housing needs of public sector workers in Accra.
“Let’s get some investors, let’s convert that whole place into some beautiful apartments for workers. You know, the Ridge Hospital staff can stay there, people working in the ministries can stay there”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He criticised the original decision to site the cathedral in Accra’s already congested administrative zone.
“From the word go, I said how do you go and put a cathedral in that space when the place is very choked? You have the Accra Sports Stadium there, you have Parliament, you have AICC”
Hon. Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, Guan MP
He proposed relocating such national projects to emerging areas like Aburi or the Sogakope road corridor to decentralise infrastructure and stimulate development. “A new city would have emerged.”
As the NPP reflects on its 2024 defeat and the road to 2028, Agbenyo insists that credibility, unity, and a clear break from past failures are essential. Without these, he believes the party cannot regain public trust.
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