A New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has made startling claims about a covert operation by close associates of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to tarnish the reputation of fellow presidential hopeful Alan Kyerematen.
Speaking on the aftermath of the Assin North by-election, Mr. Agyapong expressed concern about internal divisions within the NPP. He alleged that the Vice President’s entourage strategically disrupted Kyerematen’s speech during the final rally in Assin North on Sunday, June 25th.
This, he said, was part of the deliberate ploy to disgrace Alan Kyerematen and to portray him as not popular.
One “small boy” from my hometown who works at State House climbed the platform and instructed Alan Kyerematen to stop talking when the Vice President entered. “What an impudence,” he said.
These allegations further highlight the fragmented state of the NPP’s front as the party navigates its political aspirations.
They [protocol team and small boys] deliberately made Dr Bawumia to wait behind the crowd for some time, even though he had arrived at the venue earlier. They signaled him [Bawumia] to enter the grounds when they saw Alan Kyerematen had started speaking, Mr Agyapong alleged.
He said even though President Akufo-Addo and the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare arrived at the venue and were ushered onto the platform through the back route, the “small boys” around Bawumia deliberately made him pass through the crowd, disrupted Alan’s address to create attention for the Vice President,” and it was during that period that, that “small boy” from my hometown who works at the State House, told Alan to stop speaking.”
Why should they do this and later turn around to call for “reconciliation,” Mr Agyapong questioned and described the move as “nasty”.
Stressing why he is convinced the whole incident was planned, the MP said two people who took part in erecting the platform were close to him and were in his house the next day, and they confessed to him that the people swerved them.
After erecting the platform, they said the others brought a second “steps” and when they questioned the need for a second one when one had already been erected, they told them “it was for a special project.”
Mr Agyapong made his concerns known and made the allegation when he spoke to some NPP members as part of his campaign tour for consideration as flagbearer.