I’m compelled to wake from my slumber to comment on the current matters unfolding within my beloved party, the NPP ahead of the impending Congress. I’ve said it and will continue to drum it into the ears of all the elephant fraternity that we are our own enemies and by so doing have relinquished power to our political opponents to enjoy our toil.
The current state of affairs in the NPP ahead of its Congress on the part of a flagbearer aspirant, Honourable Kennedy Agyepong leaves much to be desired. Ken has been one of the personalities I’ve admired over the years for his generosity but his incessant attacks on the industrious vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahmuod Bawumia’s personality has left me wondering whether he is the same Kennedy Agyepong I’ve admired over the years. The vice President, together with the economic team, has worked relentlessly since assuming office in January 2017, with the economy improving at a fast rate until the pandemic suddenly struck. A pandemic that has economically rendered developed countries like the USA, England, Italy and others reeling, how much more a developing country like ours? Should there be any attacks at all on the vice President one does not anticipate from a minister of his own party. What is it about, the NPP flagbearership right? Now, what really amazes all discerning minds within the elephant family is Ken’s pick only on the vice President for attacks and not any of the other contestants, if it is actually about the flagbearership. Is it because Ken sees his excellency the vice President Dr. Bawumia, as a potential winner of the contest? Whatever it is, honourable Kennedy Agyepong’s approach is absurd and must be condemned by all who have the NPP at heart.
I’m completely uncertain that the NPP has now declared that the flagbearership aspirants could begin their campaign. If yes, I stand to be corrected, but if no why should the party allow Ken to go around the country campaigning and leaving other contestants in limbo? Is it because the NPP top hierarchy is afraid of Ken? I may be right because Ken’s outburst over the years has gone beyond control and now that he’s aspiring for a higher position, he would be at his worst outburst ever should anyone venture to advise him. Ken is intemperate and that is his major problem and the NPP as a party. What adds insult to injury on Ken’s part and makes it extremely dangerous is his misguided utterances that have the potency to give the opposition NDC a strong campaign message against the vice President in the event that he gets elected as the NPP flagbearer. What honourable Kennedy Agyepong may not but should know is being a vice President is broader and more challenging than being an MP of a constituency. The vice President position covers a vast political landscape and requires an intelligent and visionary person of Dr Bawumia’s calibre to occupy. His excellency the vice President, Dr Bawumia offers a lot of inspiration to us the discerning members of the elephant family in terms of modernization, especially in this digital age and any malicious schemes against his personality without cause must be condemned outright.
No one disputes honourable Kennedy Agyepong for contesting the NPP flagbearership but he must exercise restraint until the party gives a date for flagbearership contestants to begin their campaign. Till then I would advise Ken to attend to parliamentary business where he is needed most. Ken must also know that the best approach to winning a political contest is to make people know what you can offer if elected. Ken must leave the vice President alone to enable him to perform his duties devoid of any distractions. Attacking one’s personality without cause constitutes envy and hatred, especially when the one is a party member in a higher position. Ken must also work on his temper if he’s aspiring to a higher political arena that would be more challenging. With his current temper, I’m afraid he would flop woefully in the event that he finds himself in a more challenging political environment. The manner for which Ken approach and reacts to issues are an apology of an aspiring statesman. This is where the vice President, Dr. Bawumia excels most. Patience, respect, humility and decency are his hallmark. I’m a native of Abodom, born and raised there except for my education that made me relocate. It’s a town located three miles East of Bekwai in the Amansie East constituency, the second largest in the constituency, after Bekwai but I would doff my hat wholeheartedly to the vice President, Dr Bawumia especially for untiring efforts to embrace both Christians and Moslems to coming together.
Only the ignorant and a political foe would not commend his efforts. I believe honourable Kennedy Agyepong roams around and see how GPS and other electronic networks operate effectively in towns in Ghana today like any of the developed countries around the world. All these have been possible through the untiring effort of vice President Dr Alhaji Mahmoud Bawumia. I’m compelled to believe when a friend of mine said Ken entered the NPP flagbearership race because of his dislike for the vice President just to split his votes or in the event that Dr Bawumia ties with someone, Ken would give his votes to Dr Bawumia’s opponent so the vice President may lose. I doubted initially but Ken’s comments about the vice President testify to this assertion which is very unfortunate. If Ken deems tarnishing the image of the vice President would enhance his chances for the NPP flagbearership then he has chosen the wrong path. In this instance I would say Ken fired Mr Kwaku Annan from his TV studios for allegedly insulting Dr Bawumia, just to throw the dust into the public eyes that he has nothing against the vice President but inwardly Ken jubilated and that’s hypocrisy in the highest order. Honourable Kennedy Agyepong’s utterances in the aftermath of Mr Kwaku Annan’s dismissal have exposed him that he took Mr Kwaku Annan as a scapegoat.
Before I rest my case, I would advise my friend honourable Kennedy Agyepong to desist from blackmailing the vice President or any of the contestants and use a decent approach in his quest for the flagbearership. In that regard, peace and unity would prevail if any of the aspirants win the contest to lead the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
Thanks for the space provided
By Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi
