DOES HE DESERVE THE POSITION OF GENERAL SECRETARY OF NPP?
It is obvious that some well-meaning supporters of the elephant family do not fully know the true backgrounds of some of the aspiring national executives.
This limitation, in my candid opinion might obviously affect their choice of national leaders either positively or negatively.
What is of utmost concern to most of the potential delegates is how to choose an effective national leadership that can administer the party, to not only wrestle political party from the incumbent NDC but to form a government that is capable of transforming the ailing economy and create the needed wealth for the people.
Among the many crucial positions up for grabs that is of most importance to the support base of the NPP is that of the General Secretary, since it serves as the engine room of the party.
The objective of this article and subsequent ones therefore is seeking to dig deeper into the backgrounds of some of the aspirants, if not all, at least those contesting for the position of General Secretary and other important positions.
In this particular instance the searchlight will be on Kwabena Agyepong.
SO WHO IS THIS MAN?
Born on Independence Day, March 6, 1962, in Kumasi, to the Late Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong and Mrs. Margaret Agyepong, Kwabena Agyapong had his primary education at Royal International School in Kumasi. Continued his education at Mfanstipim High School in Cape Coast where he completed his O level’s.
Pursued his A ‘Level at the same school during which he was made the Library Prefect. He then continued to the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1986.
As an ardent sports enthusiast Kwabena Agyepong anchored the primetime sports programme, sports highlights, on National Television for close to a decade.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER
In the lead up to the return of constitutional rule in Ghana in 1992, Kwabena Agyepong got involved in the activities of the then newly formed NPP and played a role in the Adu Boahene Presidential Campaign as a co-opted member of the publicity committee where he participated in the party’s political broadcast and adverts on GTV in the run-up to the 1992 campaign for Prof. Adu-Boahene.
Since then Kwabena Agyepong has been involved in one party activity or the other.
His efforts were rewarded with an appointment as Press Secretary to President Kuffour from 2001 until May 2006 when he resigned from his position.
THE REAL BEING
The above academic, professional and political trail may best describe the man in question; however for those who have been closer to this young man, there is more about him that the ordinary party member may not know.
This is the very character, which turned down an offer from then President Kuffour to take up a deputy ministerial position just based on a flimsy reason that he was “bigger” than a deputy minister. What impudence?
Indeed that was the first major shock he exhibited to the former President and most leading party members still cannot fathom why Kwabena Agyepong would exhibit such arrogance to the very person who offered him an opportunity to rise to political fame.
Interestingly, other leading members of the party who knew this gentleman inside out, were never surprised at his behavior, because to them he was only behaving his true attitude and nature
In other words, he was trying to tell President Kuffour that, it was a “mistake” to even imagine him Kwabena Agyepong as a deputy minister.
To the extent that he had such an ego, to file as a presidential candidate in 2009 during the Presidential primaries of the NPP, is enough indication that this a man who does not want to learn to crawl before walking
After fallen down so badly in that contest, clears the dust on him and now decides to come down closer to earth, as to contest for a general secretary position.
The obvious question to ask is; what made him think he was a presidential material at the time?
Is it also the case that Kwabena Agyepong is so ambitious and desperate for a position that he must be an executive member at all cost?, and that perhaps explains his alleged connection with some dubious political opponents, whose ultimate objective is to run down our party to their advantage.
This seeming connection raises the fundamental question who is Kwabena Agyepong’s financier(s) and supporters?
Without wanting to sound unfairly critical of the young and overly ambitious man, I need to acknowledge his hardworking spirit and fluid oratory skills which can easily sway any one he comes into contact with.
Despite these positives about him, my personal experience with this man, gave me no other impression about him, than an arrogant and unfriendly character that looks down on people particularly northerners in the party.
As if this isn’t enough, he is seen by many especially the teeming youth in the party as a cheat as he allegedly swindled some youth from the Madina-La Nkwantanang constituency of their fees for media services rendered during the political campaign season.
It did not even end there some gurus within the Alan Kyeremateng Camp where he belonged during the last Presidential Primaries also accused this same character of gross misappropriation of huge sums of monies given to him for campaign activities which he has still not been able to account for.
Can we entrust this great party’s future into the hands of such a character? With his arrogant posture and intolerance, he will definitely be a misfit in the leadership structure of a democratic party like ours where everybody wants to talk and be heard.
Obviously he does not deserve my vote, neither am I convinced that he could effectively administer this great party
I think we as delegates, need a deeper reflection on our choice of who becomes our next General Secretary.
I will personally therefore admonish all party delegates to teach this man a bit of a political lesson for him to know that we in the NPP do not condone disrespect, arrogance and above all corruption of such magnitude
As “kukrudites” we need not forget that a “mistake” in the choice of the party’s leadership cannot be corrected ones it is committed, until the next 4 years.
A word to the wise is enough!!!!
Ibrahim Muftau Dauda
