5 things Ken said about Bawumia, Akufo-Addo govt that he might now have to defend

The Assin Central legislator, who keenly contested Dr. Bawumia in the NPP flagbearer-ship race, joined the vice president in his campaign tour of the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, and his appearance seems to have indicated a massive boost for the NPP’s 2024 presidential bid.

In the course of the campaign for the NPP presidential primaries, many members of the NPP expressed concerns about past pronouncements of Kennedy Agyapong on the government, fearing they might affect the party’s chances of winning the 2024 polls.

The former flagbearer hopeful did not hold back in his criticisms of the government, particularly on the performance of the economy and corruption.

Now, it appears Ken might have some explaining to do given the things he said about the government and his party’s flagbearer. He may need to do this now in order to convince the electorate to keep the NPP in power for an unprecedented third successive term.

Here are some of the things Ken said about Bawumia and the NPP in the past that may need justifying now:

‘NPP lost 2024 elections in 2022’ was a direct shot at Bawumia – Ken Agyapong

Kennedy Agyapong, in an interview with Kumasi-based Kessben FM, reaffirmed his position that the NPP lost the 2024 elections in 2022.

He explained that the issue of currency depreciation, which spiked in 2022, and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) were the two main economic factors that caused many voters to make up their minds.

The Assin North lawmaker indicated that his comment was directed at Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“I did not make it clear on the day; let me state it here. I was referring to Bawumia. It was Bawumia who said if the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you, have I said that?” he quizzed.

“If I win (flagbearership), I can easily defend my stance because some policies by the current Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, like Free SHS, 1D1F, will be maintained, but I will review all others.

“… were my funds set aside that because I am an NPP person, it will not be affected by depreciation? If my money depreciated, am I the only affected businessman?” he asked.

NPP is looting Ghana as if there is no tomorrow – Kennedy Agyapong booms

Kennedy Agyapong also made direct accusations of corruption against the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.

He claimed that the looting of the country under the government was of such a magnitude that it makes it extremely concerning, adding that the stolen funds were being stashed abroad.

“The way the NPP is looting this country, you would think there is no tomorrow. You steal all this money and stash the same abroad; what do you mean?” he was heard stating in a video clip that was shared widely on social media.

“The youth of this country are not working, yet you are intimidating people. I will put my life on the line and defend them,” he stressed.

GhanaWeb checks shows that he made the comments in the United States during his campaign trip ahead of the NPP’s November 4 flagbearer-ship contest.

‘Excuse me, strategist!’ – Ken Agyapong hits back at Bawumia over IMF decision

Kennedy Agyapong also fired salvos at the campaign of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking to delegates of the NPP in the Kintampo East Constituency as part of his ongoing campaign, the Assin Central MP directed a strong warning to the campaign of the vice president, noting that he would go on the full offensive if the personal attacks directed at him do not cease.

“They go about claiming to be strategists; a strategist is what has brought us here today. Ghana is the only place that those who send the country to the IMF claim to be strategists.

“If NPP people don’t engage in a clean campaign, they will be in trouble because for me, when you say something, I will reply to you.

“For someone who claims to be a strategist, the dollar was GHC4 equivalent when we took power; today, the dollar is GHC12. You think you are a strategist? Excuse me, strategist! Please,” he said.

Kennedy Agyapong maintained his stance that the NPP stands a high chance of losing the 2024 elections if members of the current administration are allowed to lead the party.

‘Weak fundamentals’: ‘I lost about $12 million due to cedi depreciation’ – Ken Agyapong

The Assin Central MP also indicated that between March and August 2022, he lost about $12 million through the depreciation of the cedi to the dollar.

According to him, Vice President Dr. Bawumia has no message again for Ghanaians after he stated in a 2014 address lashing out at the John Dramani Mahama government that ‘if the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you.’

Agyapong, who was speaking to some party members as part of his campaign for the flagbearer-ship of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), stated that at the time Dr. Bawumia was making those comments, the exchange rate was GH¢4.20p to a dollar.

He said since then, the cedi has depreciated to the dollar from GH¢4 to a whopping GH¢15, as witnessed recently.

“When your fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you. When you were making that statement, the exchange was GH¢4.20p. On Friday, it was GH¢15.00 to a dollar.

“What message do you want to give to Ghanaians again? Let me tell you; I’m telling you this straight; I’m saying all these things because of [something]…from March this year to August this year, through the exchange rate, I lost $12 million,’ Kennedy Agyapong said in a viral audio in GhanaWeb’s possession.

We just come out with policies without thinking’ – Ken Agyapong reacts to ban of imported used cars

Agyapong also slammed the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government over its decision to ban the importation of used cars into Ghana.

Ken Agyapong said that the decision by the government was totally wrong and was not well thought out.

Speaking at an event in a viral video shared by Graphic Online, on March 23, 2023, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, added that a lot of Ghanaians are going to lose their jobs because of the decision by the government.

“You cannot bring in one to five-year-old cars because VW is going to produce brand new cars in Ghana, because Nissan is going to produce brand new cars in Ghana.

“The direct tax we are losing through customs is more than anything in the country. Look at the number of people who are going to lose their jobs. How many jobs are these companies going to create? We didn’t sit down to analyse all these things; we just come out with policies, don’t bring used cars,” he said.

He added, “Just in 2016, I bought 240 used pick-ups for NPP campaigns. Today, you are in power, and you are telling Ghanaians not to buy used… what is the purchasing power of every Ghanaian in the country? How many people can afford new cars?”