NPP 2024 flagbearer: Boakye Agyarko, Konadu Apraku declare intentions, other names pop up

Two new persons have come out publicly to announce their intention to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the next election.

This is what Ghanas Online has learnt from the Daily Dispatch newspaper, saying Kofi Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, former Offinso North legislator and Boakye Agyarko, former Energy Minister have declared their intentions.

Both Dr. Apraku and Boakye Agyarko were part of the 17 people who contested with President Akufo-Addo in the 2007 primaries.

Commenting on the development on Angel FM’s Anɔpa Bɔfoɔ Wednesday, February 3, 2021, keenly followed by this portal, Pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson, noted this make it three, the people who have publicly announced their intentions for the flagbearer.

The duos announcement follows that of Joe Ghartey, former Railways Minister, who came out first.

Even though many believe it’s too early for people to unearth their 2024 ambitions, Mr. Ephson thinks otherwise considering the political calender of the party.

“It’s not too early because of the early elections next year. The party will be electing their executives next year so they have to start getting those who support them and get them elected,” he noted.

A research conducted by the Pollster earlier interviewed 4,200 out of the 6,000 delegates of the NPP who believe even though some people are very popular in the party, they cannot lead them in 2024.

Aside from the President, Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the most popular person in the NPP according to the research is Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central MP, followed by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, John Alan Kojo Kyerematen, Joe Ghartey and Dan Botwe.

However, the same delegates voted John Alan Kyerematen as the next appropriate person to lead the NPP.

They said Ken Agyapong is quick tempered and would sway floating voters, and noted it’s time for Mr. Kyerematen, followed by Joe Ghartey with Dr. Bawumia being third on the list for flagbearership.

Mr. Ephson further indicated “the situation the NPP is facing is very delicate because if Bawumia wins, the Ashanti’s won’t vote and if Alan wins, the Northerners won’t vote.”

The party, he noted might have to resort to a suggestion by leader of the NPP in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu, who has said they need a consensus to resolve that disparity that may arise.

He said “unless Akufo-Addo resigns in his last year so that Bawumia chooses Alan as Vice for that one remaining year. That’s the only way Alan will support Bawumia.”

However, “when there’s an open competition, whoever loses will not vote for NPP.”

Other people who are set to join the race include Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister; Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Affairs Minister; Paul Afoko, for Chairman of the party and a host of others.

That notwithstanding, it is public knowledge that Vice President Bawumia, Alan Kyerematen the Trade and Industry Minister-designate are the two topmost candidates for the race.