Bantama Seat: The showdown between Kennedy Agyapong's brother and Asenso-Boakye

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened nominations for aspiring parliamentary candidates, sparking keen interest in the fiercely contested Bantama constituency parliamentary primaries of the party on January 27, 2024.

In the spotlight is the incumbent MP, a first-timer, Francis Asenso-Boakye, engaged in a heated battle against Rapheal Agyapong, the brother of Kennedy Agyapong.

GhanaWeb.com explores the profiles of these contenders.

Francis Asenso-Boakye

Francis Asenso-Boakye is a Ghanaian politician and businessman, currently serving as the Minister for Works and Housing. He secured his position within the New Patriotic Party by defeating the incumbent Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency in Kumasi, Daniel Okyem Aboagye.

Born in Kumasi and hailing from Bantama in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Asenso-Boakye was a student activist during his time at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He played a significant role in the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON), the party's tertiary students' wing.

Asenso-Boakye holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Administration, earned as a Rotary Scholar at Michigan State University in the United States. His professional journey includes roles at Delta Acquisitions and Development, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Michigan House of Representatives, Global Media Alliance, Tema Export Processing Zone, Ghana Free Zones Board, and Ghana Investment Promotion Center.

Appointed in January 2017 as Deputy Chief of Staff and political assistant at the Flagstaff House by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Asenso-Boakye also emerged victorious in the Bantama NPP primaries against incumbent Daniel Okyem Aboagye in the 2020 general elections.

Ralph Agyapong

Ralph Agyapong, 42, is a lawyer affiliated with Kwame Gyan & Associates and the brother of Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central. Agyapong, who holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of London, confirmed his intention to contest in the parliamentary primaries for the NPP in the Bantama constituency.

He picked his nomination forms this morning; he confirmed in an interview with Ghanaweb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese,

Ralph Agyapong disclosed that the grassroots support for his candidacy became evident as people began circulating his campaign posters on social media platforms.

He disclosed seeking guidance from his brother, Kennedy Agyapong, who gave his blessing for him to contest and secure victory.

Friction between Kennedy Agyapong and Asenso-Boakye has been noted, stemming from remarks made by the latter during the NPP presidential primaries in which Kennedy was a contender.

This article, originally published on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, has been reproduced as the NPP parliamentary primaries are being held today, January 27, 2024.