Kennedy Agyapong: Projecting Bawumia-Alan ahead of Election 2024 is “rubbish”
The MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has kicked against the projection of the two main flagbearer hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kyerematen.
The vociferous lawmaker said the development will end up creating a sharp division within the governing party ahead of the 2024 elections.
Speaking at the NPP USA 2022 delegates’ conference over the weekend, the maverick politician called on the party to ensure a level ground for other hopefuls to participate in the presidential race.
“We have a sharp division – Alan- Bawumia – to me it is rubbish. If you are a democrat, why wouldn’t you want somebody to contest.
“You call yourself democrats, if you don’t want anybody to contest, be a dictator and let us know,” he said, adding: “So, if I contest you, I am not your enemy, but when you contest and you don’t win, the person who rather won, doesn’t want to deal with the losers.”
“So, I think we should allow anybody who is a true member of the party, who has interest in contesting to contest, if you want to protect MPs protect their purse, so that they can do constituency work to retain power,” he said
Pick Bawumia as flagbearer, Alan his running mate, Atta Akyea to NPP
Samuel Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South last week endorsed the vice-president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to him, the party will save for itself money and the acrimony that characterises internal elections to pick a presidential candidate if the executives by consensus agree that Bawumia is the most marketable choice to break the eight.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (26 May), the former works and housing minister said the party can pick the current trade minister and a leading contender for the position Alan Kyerematen as Bawumia’s running mate in the lead up to the elections.
Formidable force
Atta Akyea said the duo will present a formidable force and enhance the party’s chances of retaining power.
“I hold some strong views that my very good brother Alan Kyerematen is very competent, he can do this job,” the lawmaker said. “I am looing at this party from a perspective of a national party in which you will say that the driver should pick a competent mate, the one who will assist him to make sure the passengers are seated.”
He added: “I don’t believe in permanent mates, I believe that a mate can also graduate in becoming a driver. And I also believe that we have been tagged terribly as an Akan dominated party, so we could change the face of our party.
“Bawumia has been the vice president for two terms, but he has been the mate for16 years. I believe that if these two people can look at it well, the strength of Alan Kyerematen can aid the vice-president and the twin can do a good job for this party and our country. It is a conversation we shouldn’t stop and if we see the light in that, we wouldn’t have troubles.”
“So that arrangement of getting Alan to partner Bawumia, we should look at it very well… it’s eminently sensible,” Atta Akyea said.
