Spontaneous scenes of a free-for-all blood-stirring jamboree broke out at Suame Magazine and other parts of Kumasi on Tuesday when maverick politician Kennedy Agyapong showed up in flesh in the company of Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia, the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The Bawumia Campaign train was on tour of the Ashanti Region when Kennedy flew from Accra to join them on Tuesday. Kennedy’s presence created excitement because there had been speculations that he was a pained man and would not play any active role in the party’s 2024 campaign.
Kennedy contested Dr. Bawumia during the party’s presidential primaries and gave the winner a ‘showdown’ by placing second though he was a late entrant. Another contestant who had even lesser votes than Kennedy has resigned the party and flown away in a butterfly style.
Kennedy’s decision to join the Bawumia Campaign team in Kumasi clearly proved his critics wrong and ended speculations that he was no more in support of an NPP presidential victory. It was interpreted by many as a sign of unity and closing of ranks ahead of the December polls.
The atmosphere in Suame was charged as artisans and party supporters became excited when Ken was introduced as part of the Vice President’s entourage.
“I wish to, on behalf of the Vice President and the NPP thank you all for making time to come and listen to the message. God bless you all”, Kennedy Agyapong noted in a brief remark.
Before meeting the artisans, Kennedy Agyapong was spotted on the campaign bus chatting with Dr Bawumia, one of the rare scenes after the flag-bearer primaries
A leading member of the Kennedy Agyapong campaign team and convener for Citizen Eye Ghana, Alex Tetteh had earlier hinted that the Assin Central Member of Parliament(MP) will join the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team very soon.
According to him, the businessman who was in the United States of America was expected back in the country to support the New Patriotic Party to victory.
“Kennedy Agyapong is in the United States of America currently. He will be back soon and join the campaign to help Dr Mahamudu Bawumia become President. He said after the primaries that he would join the campaign, and that is what he will do,” he said.
“We even counselled him to go Independent but he saw what we said as not making sense. Kennedy is an institution, so he decided to stay with the party, unlike Alan Kyerematen who chose to leave when he lost.
Asaase News later in the day reported that “close sources at the presidency said the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, have been engaging with Mr Kennedy Agyapong as part of the President’s efforts to get all hands on deck for the NPP 2024 campaign.
“The source further disclosed to Asaase News that just last week, President Akufo-Addo had lunch with Kennedy Agyapong as part of the President’s initiated process to get everyone on board to prosecute the NPP’s 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections campaign for the party to “Break the 8.”
Dr. Bawumia, as part of the tour, met with farmers in the Ashanti region as part of his community and stakeholder engagements.
The farmers, in their numbers, took turns to share him their concerns on the state of agriculture and farming in Ghana.
A day before, Dr. Bawumia met with the Clergy, Imams and Zongo Chiefs, professional bodies, and the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs.
“I was greatly inspired yesterday by the mammoth welcome I received from Asanteman as I began my three-day tour of the Ashanti Region…It was indeed a privilege and an honour meeting with all these special groups, to share with them my vision for Ghana, and also to seek their blessings and prayers, as I seek to serve our country as President, by the grace of God.
“I welcome their concerns, encouragement, and insightful suggestions, aimed at enhancing my transformational vision and policies, for the benefit of our country and citizens. I am immensely grateful to Nananom and all the groups for their time and inputs”, Dr. Bawumia noted.
