Let’s give Bawumia the benefit of the doubt – Kwabena Agyepong

Former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong believes his party and Ghanaians as a whole should give recently elected flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the chance to prove his capabilities as president.

While urging unity and magnanimity in celebration, Ing. Agyepong observed that the 2024 general election was not going to be an easy one for the party, hence the need for the rank and file of the party to rally behind the Vice President.

“The duty we have as a party now is to ensure the 275 constituencies work in harmony; they must focus on their work, especially at the grassroots. Immediately after every election, it happened in 1992, 1998,… Elections are tough, and people are hurt. We have got to work to heal those cracks.”

“I don’t think we need to overcelebrate, but ensure that every NPP person feels a part of this battle for 2024,” Mr. Agyepong told Metro TV’s Paul Adom-Otchere on Thursday.

“We have a contest, and we’ve thrown out Dr. Bawumia as the leader of our party. I think it is incumbent on all of us, patriots of our tradition, to back him with all the energies that we can muster so that we can get along.

Kwabena Agyepong extolled the personality of the Vice President as one who relates well with everyone and is capable of changing the face of politics in the country.

“Fortunately, we have a candidate who has a very affable personality and who has been able to build links across the country. You never hear him say a bad word about someone, despite all the heat.”

He further called on Ghanaians to give Dr. Bawumia the chance to be president, arguing that the vice presidential position is quite different from being president. He said that NDC flagbearer John Mahama couldn’t deliver on his promises as president and, hence, could not be given another opportunity.

“John Mahama has had the opportunity to do what he is saying he would do right now. But he didn’t. Dr. Bawumia hasn’t had the opportunity to be president. He has been vice president. John Mahama has been both vice president and president. He [John Mahama] knows there is a difference between the two. That is why I always say we should give Dr. Bawumia the benefit of the doubt.”

Asked whether he has an interest in the party’s vice presidential slot, Mr. Agyepong, who was a former presidential press secretary under John Kufuor, replied in the negative.

According to him, the choice of a running mate remains the prerogative of the flagbearer in consultation with the National Executive and National Council of the party.