Ken Agyapong urges amnesty for former party members

A leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ken Ohene Agyapong, has urged the party’s leadership to grant a general amnesty to all party members who were dismissed or who left the party due to internal strife as part of the party’s rebuilding exercise.

He specifically pleaded for such amnesty for the suspended former National Chairman of the party, Paul Afoko; former presidential aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, and a former National Women’s Organiser of the party, Otiko Afisa Djaba.

Mr Agyapong, the immediate past Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, said the party would need everyone on board to achieve the ultimate goal of winning power back in 2028, but stressed that the healing process must begin by extending an olive branch to all party members, especially those who had been suspended or who left on their own for one reason or another to come back into the fold.

Mr Agyapong, who joined the 2024 flag bearer of the party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, for the “Thank You” tour of the Western Region, said the party must quickly put behind the 2024 electoral defeat and initiate the necessary rebuilding processes.

Addressing a packed audience that included party executives, grassroots members and students in Takoradi last Saturday, he explained that his call for forgiveness and unity was based on biblical wisdom.

The auditorium was filled to capacity with party supporters from Shama, Sekondi, Takoradi, Effia, Kwesimintsim, Essikadu-Ketan and Wassa East.

The team also included the National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ayesu Ntim; the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong; some former and  current Members of Parliament (MPs) and other bigwigs of the party.

Referencing Matthew 12:25 and Mark 3:25 that generally state that a house divided against itself cannot stand, he said uniting towards 2028 was non-negotiable.

Suspensions, dismissals

While Mr Afoko was suspended prior to the party winning the 2016 presidential election, Mr Kyerematen and Ms Djaba parted ways with the party under different circumstances, with Mr Kyerematen quitting to contest the 2024 presidential election in pursuit of the Movement for Change agenda.

Besides the three prominent personalities, the party also dismissed some members, including  former MP for Agona West, Cynthia Morrison, and hundreds of others accused by the party of acting in ways that undermined the party’s electoral fortunes.

The list includes former Communications Director of the party, Yaw Buaben Asamoa; former Deputy Information Minister, Nana Ohene Ntow, and others who joined Mr Kyerematen’s Movement for Change.

Mr Agyapong, who contested the party’s 2024 flagbearership, said without unity, even the most powerful political organisations would falter, emphasising that rebuilding the NPP must begin by healing old wounds and reaching out to those who were once part of the party but had since been pushed out due to unresolved issues.

“It is time to let go of past grudges and focus on what truly matters: the success of the party and the future of our country,” he added.

Mr Agyapong said such political amnesty must not be limited to only high-profile former members of the party, but should also encompass grassroots members who had been expelled or alienated over the years.

He also called for the reintegration of polling station executive, constituency officers and other party members who had been expelled over the years, urging the party to heal the rift at all levels.

“These individuals have families, friends and significant influence within their communities.

Some may not be with us today, not because they abandoned the NPP but because we abandoned them when grievances were left unresolved.

Bringing them back into the fold will strengthen our base and ultimately increase our chances of electoral victory,” he stressed.
He also appealed to disgruntled former members to accept the olive branch and return home for the unity and rebuilding process.

Reasons for defeat

Dr Bawumia outlined a number of factors that contributed to the party’s defeat in the elections, mentioning the government's failure to reshuffle ministerial appointees for eight years, the passage of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) Bill, poor economic performance, high cost of living and arrogance of power among government appointees.

“When you study all the reports we have so far, certain factors were highlighted.

These include the high cost of living; the prices of goods and services went up and left many Ghanaians struggling.

Another factor that was highlighted is the arrogance of power. We were not willing to listen.

“The party members told us to conduct a reshuffle, but after eight years we didn’t listen. The party members told us they didn’t want E-levy, but we implemented it.

Things were bad, and we were not able to pay NABCO (Nation Builders Corps employees), those employed under Youth and Afforestation, caterers and others were also not being paid,” he said.

Dr Bawumia said a huge part of the party’s support base who did not vote accounted for the party's defeat in six regions, namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Central and Bono.

He said in the Western Region alone, 169,000 supporters refused to vote, while 234,000 in Central and 100,000 in Bono also declined to vote.

He said the party's votes only appreciated in North East, his home region.

Religion/tribalism

Dr Bawumia said religion and tribalism could not have affected his candidacy, arguing that in the Western Region his votes appreciated compared with the parliamentary candidates’, citing Ahanta West, Amenfi West, Essikadu-Ketan, Tarkwa-Nsuaem and Sekondi as examples.

He expressed optimism that the party would bounce back in 2028.

He consequently called on party supporters from the polling stations to the national level to remain steadfast, united and resolute to recapture power.