“He [Kennedy Agyapong] said if he were God, he would gather northern politicians like John Mahama and co, and lash them. Maybe Ken hasn’t had the opportunity to know what some northern politicians have done to develop northern Ghana. Because of political expediency, he decided to make his point that way.”
Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga, Upper East Regional Director for the NPP, made these comments on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show in connection to earlier comments made by lawmaker for Assin Central and Flag bearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
It would be recalled that Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central and a hopeful candidate for the NPP’s flag bearer position, made these remarks during his conversation with Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show. His comments implied that prominent politicians originating from the northern half of the country, including former presidents and vice presidents, as well as the current vice president, have failed to utilise their power and influence to positively impact the economic prospects of the region.
“Limann was a President. John Mahama was a president. Aliu Mahama was a Vice President, then current Vice President and you are still poor? You go to the south to do kayayo? I am going to change this place.”
Mr. Agyapong insisted that some of the fundamental shortcomings of northern politicians include the absence of shea fruit juice processing factories, large rice farms in the Builsa areas capable of feeding the entire country with surplus for export, and a functional meat processing facility.
But the regional communication director has taken strong exception to the comments of the lawmaker explaining that he, Mr. Agyapong, had some sinister motives for making those comments.
Mr. Ayinbisa suggested that Mr. Agyapong’s comments were veiled attacks against another flagbearer hopeful for the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He wanted to say that those that he is in the race with, one of them come from the north and because one person comes from the north, let me diabolically, reposition my conversation so that they would see that there’s a northerner who is vying to become a flagbearer, I am not a northerner but look at what I have done in my area and then northerner that comes from this area has not done that. That is what diabolically, he was trying to insinuate.”
Mr Ayinbisa insisted that politics had grown beyond the antics of Mr. Agyaping and as such, “it would not wash.”
The Upper East Regional Director for Communication insisted that many northern politicians have done all they can to develop the area. He went on to suggest that Mr. Agyapong had a penchant for making demeaning comments against people from northern Ghana, making attributions to a recent viral video where the lawmaker mentioned that if Dr. Bawumia is elected as flag bearer, chances are that in 2025, the country would be led by a northerner.
“[He is suggesting] it’ll be either NDC’s John Mahama or NPP’s Dr. Bawumia. Ken is not happy. Ken doesn’t want a northerner to become a politician. He is saying that all of us here, John Mahama, Dr. Bawumia, Hassan Ayariga, should not lead Ghana. He comes to sit and makes these comments and we sit and clap for him. He is taking our hands from our own. That is what he is doing. He is saying a northerner shouldn’t lead us,” Mr. Ayinbisa said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
