Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a 63-year-old Ghanaian Politician and a prominent figure within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Kennedy was
elected into parliament for the Assin North Constituency in 2000 until
2012 when he was elected to represent the then-created Assin Central constituency, both in the Central Region of Ghana.
In
May 2022, the maverick politician and businessman who’s serving his 6th term in Parliament announced his intention to seek the highest executive office of the Republic of Ghana on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
If elected in the Nov. 4 NPP presidential primaries, Ken will stand a 50% plus 1 chance of becoming the 6th president of the fourth republic of Ghana.
It has thus become necessary to take a keen look at the man Kennedy Agyapong, the good, the beautiful, the bad, and the ugly.
It is also important to compare the businessman Kennedy Agyapong to another such connoisseur who once blessed Ghana’s political history albeit with minimal electoral success -
Papa Kwesi Nduom.
Kennedy Agyapong the Business Maven:
Kennedy Agyapong is no stranger to the world of business. He has carved a reputation as a shrewd entrepreneur who has managed and expanded
several enterprises.
Aside from owning a number of media outlets, none of which are of national character as the likes of
www.citinewsroom.com or
www.dailyguidenetwork.com, My. Agyapong has mentioned in several media engagements that he owns real estate, runs a large frozen food business, and is currently establishing a steel manufacturing company among others.
He has said that his businesses employ more than 7000 individuals, making him a major contributor to job creation in Ghana. The exact number of his employees is not easily verifiable but cannot be easily doubted either.
Ken Agyapong’s Businessman-Politician story bears a striking resemblance to Papa Kwesi Nduom’s in terms of claims of being the right kind of president the Ghanaian economy needs pursuant to their business achievements.
That claim did not quite work for Papa Kwesi Nduom but there are many other factors including the Political Party of choice among others.
Ken Agyapong the Political Leader
In the political sphere, Kennedy Agyapong is a sixth-term Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin North and Central constituencies who has served on several committees, known as a power broker between the two sides of the house.
Kennedy Agyapong, known for speaking his mind, sometimes without a sense of diplomacy was put before the
Privileges Committee of Parliament in 2018, 2019, and 2021. One of such invitations to parliament bothered his public
call for assault on journalist
Ahmed Suale who was later assassinated.
Mr. Agyapong has tried albeit not very successfully to
deny his alleged involvement in the killing of the
Tiger Eye Pi journalist who worked closely with celebrated masked investigative journalist
Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Earlier in 2012, My. Agyapong allegedly called for the
killing of the Ewes and Ga people in the Ashanti Region over some electoral issues.
This list is perhaps 20% of all the folly that Mr. Agyapong is accused of as a political leader yet some speak of his kindheartedness.
The is very little known of his generosity aside from what he touts himself in the media but knowing the role of money and perceived kindness in Ghanaian Politics, Mr. Agyapong's 6th term in parliament may among other things mean that he is kind enough to pay school fees for his constituents, support marriage budgets, attend funerals with handsome donations and what have you.
Kennedy Agyapong the Party Member:
Kennedy Agyapong is a polarizing figure known for his fiery and often controversial media outbursts.
He has been unapologetically blunt and insulting to his political party members and party leadership. Ken has called the New Patriotic Party members
Fools, sometimes to the detriment of party unity.
His verbal attacks on fellow party members have raised concerns about internal cohesion should he become the flag bearer of the party.
Some argue that his penchant for insults and divisive language may detract from the party's unity, a matter that requires addressing.
Beyond his retributions to the party every now and then for what-so-ever reasons, Mr. Agyapong has in recent times touted his massive contributions to the fortunes of the party in terms of the donation of several hundreds of vehicles for campaign, financial donations to the party's campaign and to individual aspirants and more. These claims are not easily verifiable knowing the poor public accountability for political funding in Ghana nonetheless, it is worth knowing that his claims have not been openly challenged by members of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Impact on Ghana's Moral Values and International Appeal:
Kennedy Agyapong's potential presidency raises questions about the impact on Ghana's moral tenets. Will his leadership reinforce ethical standards and integrity within the country, or will it challenge existing norms? While his no-nonsense approach has won him some admirers, others believe it may erode the civility and decorum associated with political leadership.
The question remains - what does mainstreaming a character like Kennedy Agyapong mean for the Ghanaian society?
As the NPP considers him for the flagbearer position, there are concerns about the repercussions of his approach, considering the often-divisive nature of his political and media expressions.
Will he be able to play in international diplomacy? How will his outbursts impact Ghana’s international appeal?
More importantly, will he be able to run the country as he has his businesses? Will the dynamics of the two ventures not be too different from each other?
The forthcoming NPP flagbearer election is an opportunity for party members to weigh the virtues and drawbacks of Kennedy Agyapong's candidacy.
His business acumen, parliamentary record, and public persona come together to form a complex narrative that elicits strong opinions.
The NPP's choice will not only shape the party's future but also have a significant impact on Ghana's political landscape and moral fabric.
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