Market women at the Kumasi Central Market have expressed displeasure at recent comments by New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant Kennedy Agyapong, describing them as tribal and at variance with what the NPP represents.
The Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) was in the news last week, when an interview he granted to a radio station saw him lament over a possible scenario of an all-northern affair in the 2024 election, should the NPP elect Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to face John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – a situation he urged the ruling party to avoid.
Addressing journalists on Monday, October 2, the market women, who described themselves as NPP members, rejected Kennedy Agyapong’s comments, stating that the NPP is not a tribal party to embrace such a call.
“We have been observing what Kennedy has been saying lately, the tribal comments he has been making,” said one of the market women, who was surrounded by her colleagues.
“Recently he said during an interview abroad that Mahama is a Northerner and others too are northerners so we should not elect Bawumia and that the NPP should elect an Akan. But we want to tell him that the NPP is not for Akans. The NPP is a national party for all Ghanaians.”
The women added that who leads the NPP and becomes President should be determined by who can do the job, not where one comes from, adding that Dr. Bawumia has proven to be the best man for the job.
“It is all about who is the best to lead. Who is competent and who can do the job. For us here in Kumasi Central Market, we have been discussing amongst ourselves and with the people who patronise our products. What we are saying is that without Bawumia, we won’t vote. No Bawumia, no vote.
“We are NPP people here in this market and we also want to break the 8. So we have consulted widely within us and from those who patronise our goods. Anyone you ask, they say Bawumia so we are sending a special appeal to the kingmakers to elect Bawumia.”