What was expected to be a routine election of student leaders at the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP (TESCON) branch, a student wing of the N
What was expected to be a routine election of student leaders at the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP (TESCON) branch, a student wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Apenteng Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) turned into a political statement against perceived external interference from the Kennedy Agyapong campaign.
Kennedy Agyapong’s Open Support Backfires
In the run-up to the elections, reports circulated that the Kennedy Agyapong campaign team had prepared a list of candidates vying for key TESCON executive positions. These individuals were branded as “Kennedy candidates” and openly promoted on campus as the preferred choice of the former Assin Central MP, who is currently seeking to lead the NPP into the 2028 general elections.
In a viral video that emerged ahead of the polls, Agyapong himself was seen on campus lifting the hand of a candidate for the Women’s Commissioner position, urging students to vote for her.The endorsement was viewed by many as an unusual intrusion into what has traditionally been an internal student affair.
Students Resist External Pressure
However, TESCON members at AAMUSTED rejected the attempt to influence their elections.The candidates publicly backed by the Kennedy Agyapong campaign lost their contests, including the race for Women’s Commissioner.
Students instead voted for individuals they believed would represent the collective interest of the NPP on campus without being tied to a specific faction.According to some students, the outcome was a deliberate message that TESCON members cannot be swayed by external endorsements or political camps.
“We are one people with a common goal. What happened was unfortunate. To have high-ranking officials of our party on campus campaigning for some candidates was really divisive,” one student told reporters.
Tradition of Independence
TESCON elections at AAMUSTED have historically been regarded as a “family affair,” where students themselves decide who among them should lead the campus wing of the party.This independence, many argue, ensures unity and allows student leaders to work towards strengthening the NPP brand on campus without being drawn into national-level political rivalries.
Another student explained: “Some of the candidates were portrayed as belonging to a certain camp, and we were urged not to vote for them. I found that very divisive because we are all NPP members.”” This is a local student affair to elect our own leaders. We know what we want and what will help our party. I am happy the results showed clearly that we cannot be manipulated.”
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