Former Member of Parliament and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has stated that the party does not reward poor electoral performance with second chances, particularly in selecting a flagbearer.
He made the assertion during a gathering of party faithful in Mampong in the Ashanti Region, where he had gone to mourn the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu.
The event, which drew key grassroots members and sympathisers, became a platform for Mr. Agyapong to reflect on the party’s electoral standards and traditions.
According to the former Assin Central MP, the NPP has a consistent record of backing candidates with strong electoral showings, and not those whose performances fall short.
He cited the case of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s 2024 flagbearer, whose leadership in the last general election, he described as “abysmal.”
“In our party, performance matters. We don’t just recycle candidates,” he said.
Addressing claims that the NPP has historically given flagbearers multiple chances, Mr. Agyapong pointed to the example of the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen.
“Prof. Adu Boahen was a pioneer in resisting military dictatorship and played a significant role in the return to multiparty democracy. Yet after the 1992 defeat, he was replaced. That tells you the NPP is serious about performance,” he said.
He contrasted this with the cases of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and President Nana Akufo-Addo, both of whom earned second chances after demonstrating strong electoral potential in previous races.
“Kufuor had only a few months to campaign in 1996, yet his performance was impressive enough to earn him another chance in 2000. That is the NPP’s standard—performance,” he stressed.
Mr. Agyapong’s comments come amid growing discussions within the party regarding its future leadership and strategy going into the next elections.