Kufuor Urges Akufo-Addo to Apologize for National Hardship—Arthur Kennedy Confirms “Grapevine” Advice
Former NPP flagbearer & President backs call for public apology over Akufo-Addo era marked by corruption, arrogance, and economic pain
Edem Latsu Nukafu eljourno 
Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has revealed that former President John Agyekum Kufuor has privately advised ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to publicly apologise to Ghanaians for the economic hardship, corruption, and arrogance that defined his administration.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints, Dr. Arthur Kennedy disclosed, “I’ve heard from the grapevine that President Kufuor has suggested to President Akufo-Addo to apologise to Ghanaians. This is advice I fully agree with. He must apologise.”
■ Kufuor’s Candid Reflections Stir Party Debate
The revelation follows former President Kufuor’s bold questions during the launch of the Patriotic Institute, where he questioned the party’s dwindling fortunes since 2016 and urged for introspection in leadership selection ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“How come our fortunes have been dwindling since 2016, 2020, and now our current state?” Kufuor asked.
Dr. Kennedy, in agreement, attributed the NPP’s decline to “impunity, corruption, arrogance of power, and severe hardship” under Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
“The electorate endured all that and decided to show them the exit,” he remarked.
■ NPP in Disarray: Party Elders Decry Loss of Direction
Adding his voice to the discussion, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, former Director of the Ghana School of Law, said the NPP has lost its ideological compass and leadership coherence.
“As we speak, the NPP has no real leader,” he stated. “The current chairman claims to be indisposed, and everyone else is scrambling for control. We need the likes of BJ da Rocha and Peter Ala Adjetey to bring order.”
He warned that the party is drifting dangerously, having “lost the basic principles that once defined it.”
■ Controversy Over Flagbearer Timeline
The party has scheduled its flagbearer election for January 31, 2026, a move many party insiders and analysts argue violates NPP’s internal constitutional order, which requires the election of constituency, regional, and national executives before selecting a presidential candidate.
This has sparked heated internal debates and further deepened divisions within the party.
■ Kufuor’s Call: Choose Leaders Who Unite, Not Divide
Kufuor also cautioned against identity politics and tribal labelling, urging the NPP to field a candidate who can appeal broadly to the Ghanaian populace and offer real solutions.
“If we want power, we must present someone who resonates with the entire electorate. The way we’re being tagged as a tribal party—even along religious lines—only gets worse when such rhetoric comes from within our own ranks,” Kufuor warned.
