A moment meant to showcase party unity turned into a public display of internal tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as former MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong clashed with Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye, during Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s national thank-you tour.
The exchange occurred at a meeting in Berekum on Monday and underscored growing unease in the party following its mixed performance in the 2024 general elections.
In his address, Abronye struck a firm tone on party discipline and loyalty, warning against internal dissent. Referring to a post-election analysis chaired by Prof. Mike Oquaye, he claimed that public criticism from within the party had handed political ammunition to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He also rejected Kennedy Agyapong’s call for the reintegration of suspended or sidelined party members, arguing that such moves would undermine party structures and reward indiscipline.
But Agyapong, a prominent figure in the NPP and a recent presidential aspirant, fired back, championing reconciliation and inclusiveness as vital to rebuilding grassroots strength.
“Even poor people want to speak their minds—how much more those of us who have sacrificed for this party?” Agyapong said, in a pointed rebuke that drew both applause and murmurs from attendees.
He criticized what he described as efforts to silence party financiers and long-time loyalists, suggesting the party’s rigid posture in some regions, including Bono, was responsible for dwindling support at the grassroots.
“The Bono Region is bleeding politically, and instead of healing, we are throwing salt into the wounds,” Agyapong said, calling for a shift in leadership attitude.
The clash between the two influential party men threw a spotlight on the deepening ideological and strategic rifts within the NPP, as it prepares to enter opposition after nearly a decade in power.
Despite the tension, Vice President Bawumia continued with the rest of the programme, urging unity and reflection as the party reorganizes ahead of the 2028 electoral cycle.
