As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) grapples with its recent electoral defeat and looks towards the 2028 elections, a strong sentiment is emerging from within the party’s ranks in the Ashanti Region.
Supporters in Kumasi, particularly those in the Manhyia South Constituency, are vocally rejecting the idea of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leading the NPP again and are instead championing the candidacy of Hon. Kennedy Agyepong.
This groundswell of support comes in response to rumors circulating within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that Dr. Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, might be poised for another run.
However, prominent Npp voices in Kumasi are dismissing such notions, arguing that the party needs a fresh perspective and a leader with different qualities to secure victory in 2028.
Kwabena Agyeman, a vocal member of the Manhyia South Constituency, expressed concerns about Dr. Bawumia’s ability to effectively connect with the Ghanaian electorate.
“While Dr. Bawumia is undoubtedly an asset to the New Patriotic Party, he lacks certain crucial elements to win elections,” Agyeman stated.
He specifically questioned Bawumia’s capacity to articulate his policy ideas in a way that resonates with the average Ghanaian, stating, “he has policies, yet he doesn’t have the courage to explain them for Ghanaians to understand him better.”
Agyeman further alleged that Bawumia lacks the political acumen necessary to navigate the complex and often cutthroat landscape of Ghanaian politics, adding, “how can this man lead the Npp in the next elections considering the smart political strategies of the NDC?”
Charles Opare, another Npp supporter from the same constituency, went even further, suggesting that Dr. Bawumia’s previous nomination was a result of external influence rather than genuine party consensus.
“Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was only imposed to lead the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections by former president Akuffo Addo, a situation that witnessed the defeat of the party in the last elections,” Opare claimed.
He added definitively, “In 2024 elections when the New Patriotic Party chose the legislator Kennedy Agyepong, the party would have won a resounding victory.
Now that we’re in opposition, we at the Manhyia South Constituency prefer Kennedy Agyepong and no one else. Bawumia is no more and have nothing to offer the Npp to win future elections.”
The call for Agyepong’s leadership wasn’t confined to Manhyia South. Yaw Paul, a supporter from the Bantama Constituency, echoed the sentiment, emphatically stating that Hon. Kennedy Agyepong is the best choice for the party in 2028.
“Without Agyepong, the New Patriotic Party should stop thinking about winning any future elections,” Paul warned.
He concluded with a direct message to the New Patriotic Party executives: “A word to the wise is enough; I am referring to the Npp National executives to draw lines on who should be given the mandate to lead the next elections for the Npp.”
These strong opinions from within the Kumasi Npp base highlight the internal debates and potential power struggles brewing within the party as it begins the long process of rebuilding and positioning itself for the 2028 elections. The call for Kennedy Agyepong signifies a desire for a leader perceived as more assertive, strategically astute, and capable of connecting with the grassroots. Whether this sentiment will translate into a broader movement within the New Patriotic Party remains to be seen, but it is clear that the race for the party’s future leadership has already begun.
