“NPP doesn’t give chance to non-performing candidates” —Ken Agyapong

Kennedy Agyapong asserts NPP’s no-nonsense stance on underperformance

Known for his candor and unfiltered commentary, former Member of Parliament and once-presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has reignited internal discussions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about performance, loyalty, and leadership standards ahead of the next electoral cycle.

While addressing party faithful in Mampong, Ashanti Region, during a visit to mourn the late traditional ruler Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Agyapong did not mince words: “The NPP doesn’t give chance to non-performing candidates.”

His message, delivered before an attentive audience of grassroots members and party influencers, was as much a reflection as it was a caution — a reminder of the party’s own precedents and the weight of electoral accountability.

A party defined by performance

Kennedy Agyapong, who represented Assin Central in Parliament for over two decades and recently vied for the NPP’s presidential slot, used the occasion to scrutinize what he described as a “false narrative” that the party routinely offers second chances to all presidential candidates.

He singled out the 2024 general elections, where current NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia led the party to what Agyapong termed an “abysmal” performance. Without mincing words, he stated that history does not favour a return for candidates who fail to deliver electorally.

“If you check the history of the NPP, even the great Prof. Adu Boahen, who sacrificed everything for our democracy, was not given another chance after losing in 1992,” he emphasized. “That tells you that our party is serious about performance.”

Lessons from the past: The Adu Boahen standard

Agyapong’s reference to Professor Albert Adu Boahen wasn’t accidental. Prof. Boahen, a respected historian and democratic icon, led the NPP during the critical 1992 elections — Ghana’s return to constitutional rule. Despite his towering credentials and contribution to Ghana’s democratic evolution, he was replaced following his defeat.

To Agyapong, this is not a tale of betrayal but one of principle.

“Performance matters more than sentiment. We are not a party of pity; we are a party of merit,” he told the crowd, some of whom nodded in agreement while others murmured in reflection.

Not all second chances are equal

Yet, the former MP acknowledged that second chances do exist — but only when they are earned. He contrasted the Adu Boahen experience with that of John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, both of whom were given another opportunity based on strong electoral performances in earlier contests.

In 1996, Kufuor managed an impressive showing despite limited campaign time, setting the stage for his eventual victory in 2000. Akufo-Addo, too, demonstrated electoral strength in 2008 and 2012 before clinching victory in 2016.

“They didn’t get second chances because they were liked. They got it because they proved they could win,” Agyapong stressed.

An eye on the future

While not explicitly calling for a leadership change, Agyapong’s remarks have undoubtedly added fuel to internal party discussions about direction and leadership ahead of the 2028 elections.

His criticisms of Dr. Bawumia, though pointed, seemed rooted in a broader argument about how the NPP defines and rewards success.

“We are at a crossroads. If we abandon our standards for friendship or loyalty, we risk our legacy,” he warned.

A voice that won’t fade

Though he no longer holds a parliamentary seat and lost the flagbearer race, Kennedy Agyapong remains a towering figure within the NPP — both revered and feared for his unfiltered truths.

As the party regroups and re-strategizes in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, his voice may yet influence the outcome of its next big decision: who leads the NPP into the next battle for Ghana’s presidency.

For now, Agyapong has served notice — performance, not personality, remains the NPP’s true north.

“The NPP is a party of standards. If you don’t deliver, you step aside. That’s the only way we stay strong,” he concluded, leaving his audience with a sobering reminder — and perhaps, a challenge.