Kumasi market women slam: “NPP is not for Akans” The ethnic politics of Kennedy Agyapong

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer candidate Kennedy Agyapong has come under fire from a group of market women at the Kumasi Central Market over recent remarks he made while campaigning.

The Assin Central MP allegedly engaged in tribal politics during his weekend “Showdown Walk” in Kumasi, according to merchant organizations.

Akans and Northerners are not welcome in Ghana, according to a spokesperson of the “NPP Identifiable Groups at Kumasi Central Market, Kejetia and Race Course,” who is heard saying as the video goes viral on social media. Tribal politics are out of place in Ghana, according to her, because it is a country for all Ghanaians.

“Kennedy Agyapong recently travelled outside of Ghana, and we heard him speaking and claiming that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (a Northern) is contesting, John Mahama (also a Northern), and Alban Bagbin (the current speaker of Parliament) is also nursing ambitions, and that it is time for Akans to rise up and insist that the NPP elect an Akan candidate.”

“The NPP is neither for Northerners or Akans. NPP is a “Ghana party” that carefully considers an individual’s labour and dedication before choosing him or her to lead the party. This is why we, the market ladies in the Central Market, are supporting Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the leader of the NPP”, the market woman added in Twi.

“We Central Market market women don’t think insults are appropriate. We have faith in the influence and strength of our votes. We converse and interact with a lot of voters. We can persuade at least ten (10) of them.

“For this reason, we are urging NPP delegates to select Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s presidential nominee because he is the candidate that everyone we speak to is supporting in advance of the general elections in December 2024,” she continued.

Kennedy Agyapong has called for an honest and open election process and warned that if he detects any manipulation or unfair tactics, he won’t hesitate to confront the party.