Kennedy Agyapong: “NPP Doesn’t Reward Failure with Second Chances”

Firebrand politician and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has sent a clear signal to the party’s base: “performance, not loyalty or sympathy, determines who leads the NPP.”

Speaking at a gathering of NPP faithful in Mampong during a visit to mourn the late traditional ruler, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Agyapong used the occasion to make pointed remarks about the party’s leadership direction, particularly in light of the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections under Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“The NPP is not in the business of giving second chances to those who fail,” Agyapong declared, drawing applause from grassroots members present at the event.

● “Bawumia’s Performance Was Abysmal”

According to the outspoken former Assin Central MP, Dr. Bawumia’s leadership in the 2024 polls resulted in what he described as an “abysmal” electoral performance—one that should disqualify him from any future presidential bid on the party’s ticket.

“Our tradition is not one of consolation prizes,” Agyapong said. “Bawumia led us into defeat, and the numbers speak for themselves.”

He added that the notion of “automatic second chances” for presidential candidates is false and runs counter to the party’s historical precedent.

● Lessons from Party History: “Adu Boahen Wasn’t Spared”

To back his point, Agyapong referenced the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, the NPP’s first presidential candidate in 1992. Despite being a respected academic and a democracy icon, Boahen was not re-nominated after losing to Jerry John Rawlings.

“Prof. Boahen gave everything to the NPP. But when he didn’t deliver victory, the party moved on. That’s how serious we are,” Agyapong stressed.

● “Kufuor and Akufo-Addo Earned It”

Agyapong contrasted Bawumia’s fate with those of John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, who both returned after initial losses — but only because they performed strongly enough to merit a second chance.

“Kufuor had less than six months to campaign in 1996 and still impressed. That’s why he got 2000,” Agyapong said. “Same with Nana in 2008 and 2012 — he lost, but narrowly. Not like what we saw in 2024.”

● Message to the Base: “Let Performance Lead the Way”

The gathering at Mampong, which drew influential party supporters from across the Ashanti Region, was part of Agyapong’s continued engagement with NPP grassroots as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential run.

He urged party members not to be swayed by emotion or blind loyalty but to evaluate leadership based on merit and results.

“If we want to win in 2028, we must choose a leader with a track record of strength, not excuses,” Agyapong concluded.

While the NPP has not officially opened nominations for 2028, Agyapong’s comments signal his unrelenting ambition and strategic positioning ahead of what is expected to be another fiercely contested internal race.