Kwame Owusu, Campaign Manager for Kennedy Agyapong (left) exchanging pleasantries with Director of Elections of the NPP, Evans Nimako
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central and businessman, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong yesterday picked nomination forms to contest the NPP presidential primary.
Campaign Manager for Kennedy Agyapong, Kwame Owusu, in an interview with journalists after picking the forms at the party’s headquarters in Accra said the businessman and politician was the ideal person to address the challenges facing the country.
He said the ruling New Patriotic Party’s mantra of ‘breaking the 8’ would be realised if Kennedy Agyapong is given the nod to lead the party.
According to Mr. Owusu, the flagbearer hopeful will not only help address the myriad of economic difficulties facing Ghanaians but he also has the ability to help create as many businesses as possible given his business acumen over the years.
“The man has demonstrated that he can lead this country, because among all the people both in the NDC and NPP, he is the only one who has been able to create a lot of businesses. If you understand the problem of businessmen whether it’s the problem of salaries, underpayment, taxes, he has experienced them and therefore has what it takes to run this country compared to the others,” he added.
Mr. Owusu further said Kennedy Agyapong’s association and willingness to support the grassroots of the party gives him a greater chance of winning the presidential race.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who is a sixth time Member of Parliament for Assin Central, is the ninth flagbearer aspirant to pick forms to contest the party’s presidential primaries since the party opened nominations on May 26.
Presidential hopefuls of the party who have so far picked nomination forms to contest for the flagbearer race slated for November 2023 include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko; former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.
Others are former Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh; former Minister of State, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, and a businessman and energy expert, Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, and former Minister for Railway Development and Member of Parliament for Esikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey.
A senior lecturer at the Department of History Education of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Eric Sakyi Nketiah, is expected join the presidential race, sources reveal.
Meanwhile, the party has announced that it will hold a Special Electoral College election on Saturday, August 26, 2023 per the constitution of the party if more than five people file to contest for the presidential primaries.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah