The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has stated that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, or Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremateng, will be the wrong candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to break the 8-year election cycle jinx in Ghana.
He added that he is the best candidate for the NPP based on his philanthropic works and his love for the people. His declaration to stand for the position of the flagbearer came as a surprise to many.
The NPP elected their national executives just last recent Saturday, and it is left for them to vote for a presidential candidate to lead the party for the 2024 elections. As it stands now, the vice president and the trade and industry minister are the favourite candidates of the ruling party.
Hon Kennedy has been a member of parliament for Assin Central for the past 20 years. Hon Ken did not want to contest for the 2020 elections, but members of his constituency made him stand as the MP for the district. He said it was a result of his philanthropic work.
“I am the best candidate because of my passion and commitment to making a difference. My work has been consistent with what the New Patriotic Party has stood for over time. I have demonstrated this by being committed to championing social justice, women empowerment, peace, human rights, and unity. The person voted as a presidential candidate should be ready to take up challenges head-on. My history speaks volumes about my readiness to do”, he added.
The MP has been speaking across many media houses and has listed a few things he will do when voted into power. He said that when given the mandate as president, he would work tirelessly for the people of Ghana. He said that every Ghanaian would have access to quality education, healthcare, and opportunities to succeed.
He also spoke about corruption passionately and gave a stern warning to ministers who will deny citizens of public funds by enriching their pockets. He again added that he would fight for the rights of women and children and most importantly, always put Ghana first.
Will He Be Any Better?
Ghana has seen enough of political promises with little to no actions backing these promises. As things stand, many people have lost hope in government and the ability of politicians to have the nation at heart. Schools remain under-resourced; workers are underpaid; roads remain undone; the government refuses to listen to the citizens and so on. And all of these were once the promises of politicians who made Ghanaians believe that they meant well.
Arguably Kennedy Agyapong is the most outspoken MP in Ghana. There have been many controversies that surround him all the time. Sometimes he fights for a good cause and has the youth at heart and most decisions and debates he raises are based on selfless principles rather than egotistical desires or materialistic gains. Kennedy can be linked to the Trump of America.
The ball lies in your court to decide if Ghana needs an emotional leader, who is passionate and benevolent. Will these political parties elect someone like Kennedy as their presidential candidate?
The political space in Ghana is characterized by a few faces and getting a new person in the presidential race will be a plus. But will he be like a president who gave so many promises but did not fulfil most of them?