Politics

NPP super delegates confab: Fear grips Bawumia after Kennedy Agyapong’s performance

Today Newspaper can confirm that the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s mind is not at ease following the surprise pulled by one of the presidential aspirants of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) just-ended super delegates conference held at the weekend.

The NPP on Saturday, August 26, 2023 held super delegates conference in all the 16 regions across the country to reduce the number of the their presidential hopefuls from 10 to five ahead of the party’s presidential primaries scheduled for November 4, 2023.

Prior to the party’s constitutional exercise, political watchers had predicted that Dr Bawumia would secure a landslide victory. However, at the close of the polls, the vice president failed to secure the over 80% which some political observers including the Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah Bonsu predicted for him.

Although he was tipped to be among the five favourites, the Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s performance after the close of the polls has become a source of worry to Dr Bawumia’s camp.

The outspoken politician cum businessman emerged second out of the top six candidates in the Saturday’s super delegates conference, securing a spot in the NPP’s Presidential Primaries in November.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia won the NPP super delegates conference with a total of 629 votes, representing 68.15% of the vote.

Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong came in second with 132 votes (14.30%), while former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen placed third with 95 votes (10.29%).

The results mean that Agyapong has qualified for the NPP’s presidential primaries in November, along with Bawumia, Alan Kyeremanten and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

Sources close to Dr Bawumia’s camp told this paper that their fear was the f act that Kennedy Agyapong came second ahead of the rest of the aspirants.

This, the sources explained, was the class of people who voted in the super delegates conferences, claiming that they did not like the conduct of the Assin Central MP.

“We are now sitting on tentahooks because we never expected Kennedy Agyapong to secure the second position slot considering the caliber of the delegates”, the source said.

What it means, the source indicated, he (Kennedy) “could send the November 4 primaries to second round since that is where his support base is”.

Meanwhile the NPP has announced its intention to summon Kennedy Agyapong before the disciplinary committee over threats and accusations he directed towards President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the Special Delegates Conference on Saturday.

In a widely circulated video Mr Agyapong, could be seen threatening the two leaders over attacks on his agents.

He was heard saying, “President Akufo-Addo, I will give you a showdown in this country, I swear to God. Vice President, I will give you a showdown for chasing my agent away. I swear to God. You will hear what will happen here. I swear to God, I will challenge President Akufo-Addo big time.”

It has since emerged that the outspoken lawmaker made those remarks in a radio interview.

A statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong on Sunday, disclosed that Mr Agyapong will be summoned before the Disciplinary Committee to explain his threats.

Four other individuals will also be summoned before the party’s disciplinary committee for misconduct.

“Pursuant to Article 10(7)(5) of the NPP Constitution, certain individuals namely: Mr. Raphael Patrick Sarfo, Mr. Charles Dokyi Yaw-Addo, Mr. Musa Sulemana and Mr. Hopeson Yaovi Adorye will be referred to the Party’s Disciplinary Committee. This is a direct response to evidence, including video and photographic materials, which suggests potential violations of the provisions outlined in Article 3(5)(A) of the Party’s Constitution and potential misconduct under Article 4(7).

“Emphasis must also be placed on the fact that Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, pursuant to the above-mentioned constitutional provisions, will also be summoned before the Disciplinary Committee of the Party to provide responses and further details to the accusations and threats he made against certain personalities in a video that has since gone viral on social media and mainstream media.”

Source: Ghana/Today.com.gh/Reuben Sackey