A New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, says Ghana’s democracy has not delivered the expected benefits to citizens.
In his address at KAA for President 2028 Policy Day, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong said the country has drifted from the dream of its founding fathers, adding that many Ghanaians now feel the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, poor sanitation and weak governance.
“Democracy has not yielded the expected dividend,” he said, insisting that the current state of the nation is not what the martyrs fought for.
He said the country is now plagued by “unwanted features” such as high unemployment, galamsey, slum settlements and a public service weakened by “unbridled politicisation”.
“This is not the Ghana our martyrs died for,” he said, calling the current situation “a demoralised, despondent and disillusioned population”.
Mr Agyepong began his address by reflecting on Ghana’s independence and the vision of the country’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He reminded delegates that Ghana gained independence on March 6, 1957, and said it was meant to show the world that Africa could manage its own affairs.
“Nearly seven decades have passed since, and it’s imperative to pause, reflect on the extent to which we have been able to achieve the goals we set, and ask ourselves the painful questions. Is this it? Is this it? Is this the Ghana we envisioned?” he asked.
He said the numbers show progress, but the reality for many Ghanaians is still harsh.
“We feel it more especially in the frustration of the youth and the unemployed graduates that we have with no jobs,” he said.
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong said the problem is not just economic, but also political.
“In summary, we have not created enough hope with our politics,” he said, arguing that Ghana’s democratic system has failed to deliver the prosperity citizens expected.
He said the dream of Ghana’s forebears has been clouded by “suboptimal systems” in education, health, governance and infrastructure.
“This certainly is not our destiny,” he said.
The NPP aspirant said he is ready to lead the party and the country into a “new dawn” to reverse the decline.
“This is not our dream,” he said, adding that leadership is about understanding, loving and helping people.
“That is the heart of the new dawn,” he said.
He announced a six-point covenant aimed at national renewal, including land reform, urban regeneration, fiscal discipline, merit-based public service, formalising the informal sector, and supporting arts and sports.
“We must be honest with ourselves about the hard work which is required to achieve this,” he said, urging NPP delegates to unite and choose a leader with integrity.
“Our party, the NPP, is not in a good place,” he said.
He called on delegates to “earnestly consider each fully operationalised plan” and vote for him on January 31 to lead the party back to power.
Mr Agyepong warned that the NPP risks losing relevance if it continues on the same path.
“Today, both as a country and my party Ghana, we stand at a crossroads,” he said.
He said the party must choose between the familiar path that has failed Ghana or the “path of renewal”.
“One path is familiar with you. It leads to more despair, more of the same that has failed us time and again,” he said.
He described his alternative as a path “paved with competence, integrity and hope for the future”.
“I, Engineer Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, with a pair of clean hands, a clear conscience and a heart that beats only for Ghana, offer this second path,” he said.
He urged delegates to “choose values over vanity, choose principles over patronage, choose character over chicanery”.
Mr Agyepong said he envisions a Ghana that is “economically robust and resilient, fiscally responsible, socially cohesive and fully accountable to our citizens”.
He added that the “new dawn” is a call for a new direction and a new face in leadership.
“The time for the new Dawn, a new dimension, a new direction and a new face is now,” he said.
He urged party delegates to embrace his covenant and work together to build a new Ghana.
“Let us embrace this covenant and march forward to victory,” he said.
