2028 Elections: You will not have second chance – Kennedy Agyapong tells Bwumia
Former Member of Parliament and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has emphasised that the party does not give second chances to candidates who perform poorly in elections, especially when it comes to choosing a flagbearer.
He made this point during a gathering with NPP supporters in Mampong in the Ashanti Region, where he was attending the funeral of the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu.
The event, which brought together many grassroots members and party loyalists, gave Mr. Agyapong an opportunity to speak about the NPP’s standards when it comes to leadership selection.
According to the former Assin Central MP, the party has always stood by candidates who show strong electoral results, not those who underperform.
He cited Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, and described his showing in the last election as disappointing.
“In our party, performance matters. We don’t just recycle candidates,” he said.
Responding to arguments that the NPP has often allowed flagbearers to contest more than once, Mr. Agyapong pointed to the example of the late Professor 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 compared this with the examples of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and current President Nana Akufo-Addo, who both got second chances because of their strong electoral showings in their initial attempts.
“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 remarks come at a time when internal discussions about the party’s future leadership and direction ahead of the next elections are gaining momentum.