Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central and one-time New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has emphasized that the NPP does not entertain second chances for candidates who perform poorly in elections—especially when it comes to selecting a flagbearer.
Speaking to party supporters in Mampong in the Ashanti Region, where he had gone to pay respects to the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Mr. Agyapong used the opportunity to underscore the party’s historical emphasis on electoral performance and results.
He stated that the NPP has always backed candidates with strong electoral records, not those who have failed to meet expectations. In this context, he took a direct swipe at Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 flagbearer, describing his performance in the last general election as “abysmal.”
“In our party, performance matters. We don’t just recycle candidates,” Mr. Agyapong asserted.
Responding to claims that the NPP has a tradition of giving flagbearers multiple opportunities, he pointed to the example of the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen. Despite his instrumental role in ending military rule and restoring democratic governance, Prof. Boahen was not retained as flagbearer after losing the 1992 elections.
“That tells you the NPP is serious about performance,” Agyapong said.
He went on to draw a distinction between Prof. Boahen’s experience and those of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and current President Nana Akufo-Addo. According to Agyapong, both leaders earned their second chances by demonstrating strong electoral promise.
“Kufuor had only a few months to campaign in 1996, yet his performance was impressive enough to warrant another chance in 2000. That is the NPP’s standard—performance,” he noted.
Mr. Agyapong’s remarks come at a time when internal party debates about leadership and strategy ahead of future elections are gaining momentum.
