Former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party [NPP] Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, claims the party has done Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia a great favour which he and his supporters must accept.
His comments come at the back of claims that, if the NPP does not elect Bawumia flagbearer of the party in 2024, the party has used and dumped him because he is a northerner.
Speaking on Oyerepa Breakfast Time on Thursday, July 7 2022, hosted by Kwesi Parker-Wilson, he stipulated that, he disagrees with anyone who has that notion.
According to him, no one in NPP has used a northerner and dumped him or her so if someone says that “you have not respected the party.”
He explained that in 2008 Bawumia wasn’t a member of NPP but then General Secretary Ohene Ntow gave him a waiver to become the party’s number 2 card bearing holder despite not qualifying for the party’s membership.
“2008 Baumia wasn’t a member of NPP. In fact, the party has done him a great favour because then Ohene Ntow gave him a waiver because in the NPP constitution if you haven’t exceeded 5 years, you can’t be on the ticket of the Running mate.
Our General Secretary gave him a waiver, the biggest waiver and no one talked about it. So if anyone says NPP has used someone and dumped him, I disagree.” Kwabena Agyepong disclosed
As per him, Akufo-Addo had chosen Bawuimia as his running mate therefore because of the respect the party had for him (Akufo-Addo), the committee of which he was a member accepted Bawumia to become Nana Addo’s running mate.
“Because of the respect we had for Akufo-Addo we accepted Bawumia… I was in the meeting when we accepted him.” Kwabena Agyepong uncovered.
He added that the party has done Dr Bawumia a great favour because he was from nowhere and has assumed one of the prestigious positions in Ghana. As result, if he ends his political career in that position, he should accept that the party has done him a great favour and must give thanks to God.
“Straight from not being a member of the party, we gave you (Bawumia) party card, straight to number two (Vice President); we’ve done you a great favour. Vice President of the republic is a big position so if you even end your political career in that prestigious position, you must thank God,” he stated further.
Dr Bawumia has declared all intentions clear to contest for the NPP flagbearership position in 2024. Some party executives have thrown their support to him to lead the party. Some chiefs and other political scholars in the country have all called on the party to allow Bawumia to lead NPP.
However, Kwabena Agyepong believes that it is only the party’s foot soldiers who can give him the mandate to lead NPP.
“If he’s looking for a flagbearer he should go to the party’s foot soldiers and if they accept him fine.
Our party is a democratic party, if you have got the zeal to work for the party, sacrifice yourself, go to the polling station executives, give them respect and tell them your message and if they accept you fine. With that, there will be no coronation in the party.” The assertion of Kwabena Agyepong.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com / Joseph Marfo
