Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has officially filed his nomination forms to contest the party’s up
Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has officially filed his nomination forms to contest the party’s upcoming presidential primaries, marking what he described as a “pivotal milestone” in his lifelong political journey.
Addressing party faithful and journalists after filing his papers, Agyepong said his decision to re-enter frontline politics was driven by a commitment to restore the NPP’s core values of service, sacrifice, and selflessness.
He emphasized that Ghana was at crossroads and in need of authentic leadership capable of confronting economic and social challenges with honesty, integrity, and substance.
Political Journey
Agyepong is not new to Ghana’s political landscape. He served as Press Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufuor in the 2000s before becoming NPP’s General Secretary in 2014.
However, his tenure was cut short in December 2015 when he was suspended alongside National Chairman Paul Afoko and Second Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe over allegations of misconduct and working against the party’s interest.
Agyepong has since maintained a relatively quiet but consistent political presence, often advocating for internal party reforms and the strengthening of the democratic institutions.
His re-entry into the presidential race, therefore, positions him as both a comeback candidate and a reformist voice within the NPP.
Call for Renewal and National Re-Engineering
In his speech, Agyepong painted a grim picture of Ghana’s current state, pointing to high unemployment, poor sanitation, illegal mining (galamsey), lack of city planning, and a judicial system clogged with land disputes.
He lamented what he described as “a demoralized, despondent, and disillusioned population” and called for a national renewal.
“Ghana must heal from the stridently divisive and chronic polarization that has become an ugly feature of our politics,” he said.
“There is a compelling need to usher in a New Dawn, a new era where Ghana is re-engineered back to prosperity.”
He outlined a vision of a fiscally responsible, economically robust, and socially cohesive nation anchored on meritocracy, professionalism, and hard work.
Property Justice Initiative
One of the central pillars of his campaign is what he calls the National Property Justice Initiative, a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing long-standing grievances over land ownership and compensation.
He apologized to families and communities displaced by mining operations and state projects without fair compensation, vowing to correct such historical injustices if elected.
His proposed reforms include:
Reviewing and reforming land tenure laws to protect customary rights.
Establishing transparent compensation frameworks for dispossessed landowners.
Creating youth-led oversight councils in mining districts.
Funding civic education campaigns on land rights and environmental stewardship.
He stressed that these initiatives would be implemented “with the people, not for the people.”
Critique of Monetization in Politics
Kwabena Agyepong also criticized what he described as a creeping culture of monetization within the NPP, warning that the imposition of high financial barriers risks excluding competent leaders in favor of the wealthy.
“Our tradition was never about money or auctioning votes to the highest bidder,” he said. “It was founded on sound values, virtues, and volunteerism. The attempt to create a monetary barrier that practically shuts out capable and competent patriots is truly repugnant.”
“Let us forge ahead with renewed energy to rebuild, regenerate, and rejuvenate our base with unity and hope. God bless our homeland Ghana, and our beloved party, the NPP.”
The expanded register is likely to play a crucial role in determining the balance of power among aspirants in what analysts predict will be one of the most competitive contests in the party’s history.
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