Businessman and former Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has called on his supporters to remain calm following his loss in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries held on Friday.
Speaking to members of Team Ken shortly after results became clear, Agyapong thanked his campaign team and reminded supporters that defeat forms part of politics. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secured victory in the nationwide primaries to become the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Team Ken for the wonderful work they’ve done,” Agyapong stated. “In politics, you can win, you can lose. So don’t be dejected.”
He acknowledged disappointment among his supporters but encouraged them to stay hopeful despite the outcome. His message emphasized resilience and maintaining positive spirits through adversity.
“Once you have life, you have hope. Don’t be dejected. Keep your spirit up,” he added. “The worst doesn’t mean that is the end of life.”
Describing himself as a veteran politician, Agyapong said he had experienced several defeats throughout his career and had prepared himself mentally for any outcome. He indicated he had cushioned himself against disappointment before the results emerged.
“I cushioned myself and expected the worst, and the worst has happened. But we have to keep faith alive and be happy with the outcome. Who knows what will happen tomorrow,” he said.
The former legislator cautioned supporters against directing anger toward other party members and stressed unity following the vote. He urged Team Ken members to avoid using the defeat as ammunition against fellow NPP members.
“Do not use this against anybody in the party. Once the delegates have decided, let’s all come together as party members and work together,” he stated. “We have to stay calm and believe in the party. The delegates have spoken. We have to take it.”
Over 211,000 accredited delegates cast ballots at more than 300 polling centers across Ghana. Party officials and security agencies oversaw the process to maintain peace and transparency throughout voting.
The primaries attracted five contenders vying for the flagbearer position. Former Vice President Bawumia secured a commanding lead over Agyapong and three other aspirants, including former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Bryan Acheampong, former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
Earlier in the day, Agyapong voted at a polling center in Assin Central in the Central Region. He expressed confidence the primaries would be conducted fairly and told media he did not anticipate a recurrence of challenges that characterized the 2023 presidential primaries.
“I don’t think there will be a repetition of what happened in 2023,” he said after casting his ballot. He pledged to work toward uniting the party should he emerge victorious and stressed cohesion’s importance ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Global InfoAnalytics polling data suggested Agyapong’s support declined sharply in the campaign’s final weeks. Executive Director Mussa Dankwah revealed that daily tracking polls showed Agyapong’s numbers dropping after videos of attacks on Bawumia went viral.
“Towards the last month of the campaign, Kennedy Agyapong lost a bit of concentration, and by the last week, it became worse,” Dankwah told Asempa FM. The polling firm conducted continuous surveys between December 29 and January 23, sampling approximately 500 NPP delegates daily from Monday to Friday.
Agyapong previously competed in the NPP’s 2023 flagbearer contest ahead of the 2024 general elections. Bawumia won that primary with 61.43% of votes while Agyapong garnered 37.41%. Following that defeat, Agyapong accepted the results and pledged support for the party’s efforts.
He concluded his message to supporters by requesting they remain peaceful and optimistic about the future, emphasizing the party must move forward together regardless of individual disappointments.
