Kennedy Agyapong, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin North, has raised strong reservations about the latest list up for consideration in the party’s search for a running mate.
Speaking to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Joy FM's flagship programme, the Super Morning Show, Mr Agyapong, a party stalwart, said the latest list rather gives an edge to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2008 elections.
He questioned the consideration of Dr. Ibn Chambas, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, who, according to Mr Agyapong still remains an NDC bigwig.
He was also not enthused about the choice of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
Being the Chairman of the Central Regional NPP Campaign Team, he said, “If the party makes a mistake and selects Dr. Chambas or Dr. Bawumia, I will not waste my time to campaign” for the NPP.
Mr Agyapong intimated that certain key members of the party are already unhappy about the current trend of affairs.
He was also furious about the stress being put on the party’s presidential candidate to go for a compromise candidate, irrespective of his loyalty to the party.
He accused the party’s big shots of piling unnecessary “pressure on Nana Akufo-Addo…confusing” the man in the process.
The MP, who does not mince words, said the latest crop of names popping up “is putting me off”.
He said, it is unfortunate persons like Alhaji Boniface Abubakar, Minister for Water Resources and Works and Housing, and Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who have stood on the party’s ticket as MPs before, are being criticized for not being true party members.
He therefore questioned the loyalty of Dr. Chambas and Dr. Bawumia in the NPP.
Kennedy Agyepong sets the criteria for the ideal vice presidential candidate.
“We want a true party man with some level of loyalty. Choosing a compromise candidate will dampen the spirit and discourage party members who have sacrificed their lives for the party.”
He said since the party is targeting the Muslims, and since his favourite – Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, MP of Yendi and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament - was not considered, he is okay with any true party member who is a Muslim
He urged Nana Akufo-Addo to go for a Northerner “who has toiled and sacrificed” for NPP, like some of the ministers who served under President Kufuor’s administration.
Mr. Agyepong advised the party against complacency, because the December elections would not be that easy.
Already, he said, NPP foot soldiers are “disgruntled” with the party because they have personally not been “recognized”.
The businessman however stated he is not pushing to be considered for the running mate slot but only giving expression to a candid opinion.
Story by Isaac Essel & Fiifi Koomson
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
We have needed political will to fight galamsey – Defence Minister
31 minutes -
Meet the incoming Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ghana
33 minutes -
GAF has been empowered to fight galamsey menace – Defence Minister
43 minutes -
Galamsey fight: We’ll talk less and let action and outcomes guide us – Defence Minister Omane Boamah
44 minutes -
Dispatch rider granted GH¢16,000 bail in fraud case
59 minutes -
Driver remanded over alleged escape from police custody
1 hour -
Security guard remanded for knife threat in iPhone robbery
1 hour -
Nigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them out
2 hours -
Brazilian butt lift ads banned by UK regulator
2 hours -
Nvidia expects $5.5bn hit as US tightens chip export rules to China
2 hours -
Strong macroeconomy key to sustaining Ghana’s capital market – Stanbic executive
2 hours -
Revolutionising pension funds in Ghana through securities lending
2 hours -
Driving Ghana’s economic growth through public sector financing
3 hours -
Ewe family series House of Klu launches on Akwaaba Magic
3 hours -
Heavy drinking linked with lasting impact on the brain, study finds
3 hours