Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, has dismissed claims that failing to visit Mahamudu Bawumia after the NPP flagbearership election signals disloyalty or internal dissent.
Kwarteng was responding to questions about why Agyapong has yet to pay a courtesy visit to Bawumia, who won the party’s presidential primary, during an appearance on Atumpan, a political talk show on Asaasepa 107.3MHz.
Test of loyalty
Answering a question posed by the programme’s host, Bonohene Baffour Awuah, Kwarteng said the expectation that losing candidates must visit winners after elections was neither conventional nor a reliable test of loyalty.
“I have always asked who introduced the idea that once elections are over, people must go to the winner’s house to congratulate him,” Kwarteng said.
“When did this become part of our political culture?”
He argued that Agyapong had already fulfilled all essential obligations expected of a defeated contender, including conceding defeat, attending the victory declaration and engaging party supporters with messages of unity.
Unnecessary divisions
According to Kwarteng, reading negative intent into the absence of a personal visit risked deepening unnecessary divisions within the party.
He questioned whether the same standard was being applied consistently across the NPP, noting that other senior party figures, including Bryan Acheampong, had also not paid similar visits without facing accusations of disloyalty.
Kwarteng also cited former president John Agyekum Kufuor, saying it would be unreasonable to interpret his lack of a visit as opposition to the party’s flagbearer.
“Sometimes we need to apply common sense,” he said. “Elections are over. The focus should be on unity, resolving differences and preparing strategically for the next election.”
He added that during the administrations of Kufuor, Nana Akufo-Addo and John Mahama, party politics did not revolve around post-election courtesy visits as proof of allegiance.
The NPP is currently working to consolidate support following its internal contest as it prepares for the next general election.
