Former Member of Parliament and erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has argued that poor electoral performance should not be rewarded with another opportunity to lead the party into the next national election.
Addressing party supporters in Mampong on June 7, 2025, during a visit to mourn the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Mr Agyapong emphasised that the NPP’s tradition is rooted in rewarding competence and results, not sentiment.
The former Assin Central MP used the platform to reflect on the current state of the party and to caution against overlooking performance in decisions about leadership selection. His remarks come in the wake of internal conversations over the party’s future and the implications of its recent electoral performance under Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s 2024 flagbearer.
“Let no one be deceived,” Mr Agyapong said. “Our party has a history of rewarding strong candidates. If you lead us into an election and perform abysmally, you should not expect another chance.”
He challenged the view that the NPP has a culture of giving its presidential candidates multiple opportunities, stating that this only applies when the candidate’s first attempt demonstrates significant promise.
“In 1992, Prof. Adu Boahen, despite being a hero of our democratic struggle, was not given another opportunity after losing that election. He was a principled man who sacrificed for the country, yet the party moved on because performance matters,” Mr Agyapong asserted.
He contrasted that precedent with the experiences of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, both of whom were allowed to contest a second time after strong showings in their initial bids.
“Kufuor campaigned for barely a few months in 1996 and still made a remarkable impact. That performance earned him the trust of the party to try again in 2000—and he won. Nana Addo also showed electoral strength before getting a second chance,” he noted.
“The facts are there. If someone leads us to one of our worst electoral outcomes, we cannot pretend as if that didn’t happen. This is a serious political party. We don’t hand out leadership as a consolation prize,” he stated emphatically.
John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was declared the winner of the December 7, 2024, poll. According to the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mahama, who was inaugurated as President on December 7, secured 6,591,790 votes, representing 56.42 per cent of valid votes cast.
His closest competitor, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 4,877,611 votes, accounting for 41.75 per cent
Mr Agyapong’s remarks reflect ongoing tensions within the NPP over leadership direction and succession, with many grassroots supporters expressing discontent after the party’s electoral defeat. His comments are likely to stir further debate as the NPP considers its path forward ahead of future elections.