By:Baba Mohammed Issahak /Hamza Lansah Lolly
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant and former MP for Assin North, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has withdrawn from the party’s ongoing “Thank You” tour, citing threats to the safety of his team members.
The tour, initiated by the NPP leadership after the party’s defeat in the December 2024 general elections, has been making stops across various constituencies to show appreciation to Ghanaians and party supporters. However, tensions flared during the party’s visit to the Bantama Constituency in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, when a young man a student of KNUST, believed to be a supporter of Mr Agyapong, was reportedly stabbed by suspected party vigilantes.
Following the incident, Mr Agyapong announced his decision to pull out of the tour for the safety of his entourage. “What happened yesterday? I want to pull out or my team and I want to pull out because lives are being threatened. I don’t think I can protect my team enough, so we want to step aside so that Dr Bawumia can continue his campaign tour,” he told the media.
Despite the withdrawal, Mr Agyapong reaffirmed his loyalty to the NPP and urged his supporters to remain calm. “I’m still a party member. I’m calling for unity. My team is pulling out, but I’m not backing away from the party,” he stated.
He further emphasized that no form of intimidation would drive him out of the NPP, recalling his long-standing contribution to the party since the 1990s. “This cannot scare me to leave the party. We built the NPP from 1990 till now. I’m not someone you can intimidate to stay away from the party.”
Mr Agyapong also pledged to seek justice for those affected by the violence in Bantama.
