Kennedy Agyapong
Three presidential aspirants of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), took their turn before the vetting committee of the Party to assess their suitability as Presidential candidate in the lead up to the party’s delegates congress on November 4.
Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister, was the first to appear before the Committee which was later followed by Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Kennedy Agyapong with each of them going through over an hour of vetting.
A third time Presidential hopeful, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, who had been through similar vetting process in 2007 and 2014 described the process as normal when he spoke to journalists after being vetted by the Committee.
He was confident of sailing through the vetting process as his message of ushering in a new dawn and direction for the country resonated with the delegates after serving the NPP for several years.
He said “I am confident the delegates will vote for me, they will choose someone who has shown a life of dedicated service, sacrifice to this political tradition which has been manifested to everyone giving the role I have played during Adu-Boahen’s campaign since 1992.
Touching on the current economic situation in Ghana, Mr. Agyapong asked people in the helm of affairs to critically assess what was needed to help transform the economy.
In his view, areas such as public service, recalibrating the values as a country, collegial mentality, public good, nationalism among others should be the country’s priority.
Though a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko and member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong did not speak to the media, they were accompanied by their supporters amidst singing.
Supporters of Kennedy Agyapong who had thronged the vetting grounds with a brass band and posters and banners of him sang and danced as they continued to shout “the competition has changed”.
Six out of the 10 presidential aspirants have so far been vetted by the vetting committee while other 4 were expected to be vetted on July 5 and 6, 2023.
The four who are expected to be vetted on July 5 and July 6, 2023, are Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Agric Minister, Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado-Ketan Constituency and Former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimo.
According to the Director of Elections at the NPP, Evans Nimako, if more than five of Presidential aspirants are recommended by the party’s vetting committee; the party will conduct a special delegate’s congress on August 26, 2023 and followed by the national delegate’s congress on November 4.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah