Bismark Boateng, the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ayawaso Central constituency, has publicly declared his support for former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, to be the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 general elections.
He explained that his decision stems from his belief that the lawmaker and businessman is a more marketable and formidable candidate.
He asserted that widespread sentiment, from the “streets to the ghettos and across every corner of Ghana,” indicates that voters are keenly interested in backing the NPP if Mr. Agyapong is elected as the party’s flagbearer.
Mr. Boateng initially stated that he would have preferred to remain neutral, given his position as a party executive.
However, he noted that due to the precedent set by executives at both the national and local levels publicly endorsing candidates, the “floodgate for declaration had been opened.”
Consequently, he felt compelled to also make his preference known.
”I am ‘Konnected.’ My initial thought was to have remained neutral and not declare. The party leadership should have issued a directive preventing any party executive from declaring for any candidate. However, almost every executive has declared for a candidate, and so I have also decided to declare for Kennedy Agyapong.”
He further elaborated on his choice: “Kennedy Agyapong is marketable, formidable, the people’s choice, and will easily win the elections for the NPP. I have examined him and discovered that he is the most preferred candidate. I am a ‘street boy,’ and I can tell you that he is loved and cherished on the streets. He is a household name. He has lived on the streets, and when you mention his name, it resonates with the people.”
When asked if the candidacy of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was a factor in the NPP’s defeat, Mr. Boateng expressed a critical view.
”I would say that Dr. Bawumia did not help us. Every election has a candidate that fits a specific situation. The NPP had been tagged as an Akan party and a party that uses and dumps Northerners. Therefore, the party decided to elect him, hoping he would secure us the victory, but we did not achieve our goal as a party.”
He maintained that selecting Dr. Bawumia as a candidate again would likely erode support, particularly among the party’s youth. He added that party supporters “are still peeved and looking for a different candidate who is not only courageous but formidable.”
Mr. Boateng added that the former Vice President is perceived as one of the figures whose leadership style contributed to the NPP’s internal disaffection, and nominating him again would not benefit the party.
