Political Historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Samuel Adu Gyamfi, has advised supporters of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to avoid issuing strong rebuttals to recent comments made by Kennedy Agyapong.
The call comes in the wake of remarks by the former Assin Central MP, who criticized the idea of presenting a previous flagbearer hopeful for a second shot after a failed attempt.
According to Prof. Adu Gyamfi, reacting with hostility to Agyapong’s statements could risk widening rifts within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at a critical political juncture.
Speaking to ABC News Ghana, Prof. Adu Gyamfi emphasized that internal cohesion within the NPP is vital, especially ahead of the 2024 general elections.
He pointed out that Kennedy Agyapong commands significant support within the party and that his voice resonates with a substantial faction of the grassroots.
“It is important for individuals who are dissatisfied with aspects of the party’s organization to speak their minds freely,” he noted, adding that stifling dissent could deepen existing cracks.
He stressed that suppressing opposing views may be counterproductive and could alienate some party members.
The academic’s intervention follows a pointed comment from Kennedy Agyapong during a visit to Mampong in the Ashanti Region, where he declared that the NPP does not “recycle failed flagbearers.”
He argued that the party’s tradition rewards electoral performance over loyalty or incumbency. Prof. Adu Gyamfi suggested that while Bawumia’s supporters may feel compelled to respond, doing so without restraint may embolden internal divisions rather than promote party unity.
