With barely three weeks to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) January 2026 flagbearer election, political alignments within the party are hardening, and few have drawn as much attention as that of former Deputy Finance Minister and Atiwa East MP, Abena Osei Asare, who has publicly thrown her weight behind Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Her endorsement is striking not merely because of her stature within the party, but because she has previously aligned with other contenders in past internal contests, most notably backing Alan Kyerematen during the 2023 race. That decision, she recalls, came at a political cost, attracting intense scrutiny and backlash that made her parliamentary re-election more difficult than anticipated.
Yet, appearing on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana with Paul Adom-Otchere on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Abena Osei Asare made it clear that her current choice is neither impulsive nor sentimental, but the product of constituency-level consultations, electoral reflection, and a reassessment of the party’s post-2024 realities.
A Party at a Crossroads
According to the Atiwa East MP, the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general election triggered a period of introspection on her part. Rather than retreating into party headquarters deliberations, she said she returned to her constituents to ask difficult questions about where the party had faltered.
What emerged from those engagements, she explained, was a recurring complaint: a growing disconnect between party leadership and grassroots sentiment, particularly on governance issues and economic pressures confronting ordinary Ghanaians.
She insists her support for Kennedy Agyapong was, in part, driven by direct appeals from her constituents, who asked her to engage the outspoken businessman-politician and present him as a viable alternative capable of reconnecting the party with the base.
“For me,” she suggested, “every electoral victory starts from the constituency,” adding that having been given the mandate to serve, she felt obliged to reflect the wishes and mood of her people.
Discipline, Honesty, and Electoral Pragmatism
Beyond constituency sentiment, Abena Osei Asare framed her support within what she described as a broader national and party mood. She argued that the current political climate favours leaders who are blunt, pragmatic, and willing to enforce discipline within party structures.
In her assessment, internal discipline within the NPP has weakened, with systems and structures increasingly ignored. She believes Kennedy Agyapong’s forthright personality, often controversial, is precisely what resonates with a segment of the electorate that is weary of political caution and procedural ambiguity.
When pressed on what she meant by discipline, she clarified that it was not about disrespect for elders or hierarchy, but adherence to established party processes, accountability, and honesty in leadership.
Jobs, Youth, and the Business Argument
Central to her argument is employment. With the youth now forming a decisive bloc of Ghana’s voting population, Abena Osei Asare believes economic messaging must go beyond government-centric solutions.
Drawing on her eight years in government, including her tenure at the Finance Ministry, she maintained that the state alone cannot absorb the approximately 150,000 graduates produced annually by Ghana’s universities. Rising compensation costs, she noted, underscore the need for a stronger private sector-led growth strategy.
In Kennedy Agyapong, she sees a candidate whose business background aligns with that need. She pointed to his emphasis on value addition, industrial opportunities, and local production, recounting how his engagements in her constituency sparked enthusiasm among residents by demystifying entrepreneurship and manufacturing possibilities.
She stressed that her endorsement does not dismiss existing policies such as One District, One Factory, but rather envisions Kennedy Agyapong building upon them with a private-sector lens shaped by lived experience.
“Presidential Material” Question
Critics have questioned whether Kennedy Agyapong fits the traditional image of a Ghanaian president, citing concerns about his temperament, diplomatic suitability, and academic pedigree.
Abena Osei Asare dismissed such arguments as outdated, insisting that leadership should now be judged by results rather than appearances or elite credentials. She argued that Ghanaians are more concerned with job creation, discipline in governance, and tangible outcomes than with ceremonial polish.
She further suggested that history shows leadership can emerge from unconventional profiles, adding that courage and authenticity now matter more to voters, particularly the youth.
Party Unity and Due Process
On internal party tensions, including calls for disciplinary action against senior members, Abena Osei Asare emphasized due process. She urged adherence to laid-down party structures, arguing that discipline must be institutional rather than impulsive.
She maintained that grievances should be addressed through engagement and dialogue, not public confrontation, stressing that unity remains critical if the party hopes to reclaim power in 2028.
Betting on 2028
While acknowledging the strength of other aspirants, Abena Osei Asare expressed confidence that Kennedy Agyapong represents the “man of the moment” for the NPP, particularly in terms of cross-generational appeal and electoral competitiveness.
Her conviction, she said, is rooted in grassroots feedback rather than elite calculations. Ultimately, she framed her support as a strategic choice driven by one overriding objective: returning the New Patriotic Party to power.
In her words, the question is no longer about pedigree or politeness, but about who can reconnect the party with the people and win.
