NAVRONGO, UPPER EAST REGION – Presidential aspirant Ken Ohene Agyapong delivered a stark warning to New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates in Navrongo, urging them to make a pragmatic and “mathematical” choice in the upcoming flagbearer contest to avoid a long-term stay in opposition.
Speaking to party members, Mr. Agyapong built a case centered on the comparative electability of the potential candidates, referencing figures from previous national elections. He drew a direct comparison between the electoral fortunes of President John Mahama and the NPP’s 2024 candidate, whom he referred to as “your brother.”
“Let me ask you this,” Mr. Agyapong stated, “John Mahama lost to President Akufo-Addo by [what he referred to as] a 1 million vote deficit. It took him 8 years to come back to power.”
He then contrasted this with the NPP’s recent electoral performance.
“So if your brother lost the election with a 1.7 million vote deficit, how many years is it going to take him?” Mr. Agyapong queried.
He posited that the path back to power from such a significant deficit would be arduous and lengthy. “How many years? 16 years?” he projected. “Most of us will be dead! I will be 80 years old!”
Mr. Agyapong’s argument was that personal loyalty to a candidate should not override the party’s strategic goal of retaining power. He insisted that the party must listen to the broader Ghanaian electorate and select a candidate with national appeal.
“We have to listen to what Ghanaians are saying,” he concluded. “We are not the only people who are going to vote… we have to choose a flagbearer that Ghanaians will buy.”
The speech framed the next internal election as a critical strategic choice, pitting loyalty against what Mr. Agyapong presents as the hard data of electability.