Kennedy Agyapong Best Hope for NPP in 2028- Business Mogul
Mr. Richard Kofi Addo, Chief Executive Officer of the Richardo Group of Companies — dealers in nails, roofing sheets, iron rods and hardware — has stated that Ghana’s political system is “in dire need” of a leader capable of fighting and “uprooting” corruption.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Addo noted that recent corruption cases initiated by the Attorney-General’s office, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, EOCO, and other anti-corruption institutions against former appointees of the previous NPP-led administration, together with the arrests of some former officials, make it difficult for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to recapture power in the 2028 general elections.
According to him, it would be “near impossible” for the NPP to win if delegates elect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer.
Mr. Addo argued that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is strategically projecting the NPP as a “den of thieves,” with what he described as “implicating evidence” emerging from cases such as the National Service Authority and the National Food Buffer Stock Company scandals.
He added that whether these cases are politically motivated or not can only be determined by the courts.
The business mogul questioned how Dr. Bawumia, who served as Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team for years, could “miraculously turn the fortunes of the nation around” at this time. He suggested that Dr. Bawumia should have waited a few more years before pursuing his presidential ambition, especially when corruption-related issues involving former appointees remain “fresh in the minds of Ghanaians.”
Mr. Addo further stated that Dr. Bawumia would struggle to deliver a compelling campaign message for the NPP in 2028 if the affected former appointees are eventually found guilty, especially as the NDC-led government continues to push its agenda of stabilizing and appreciating the Ghana cedi.
He stressed that the NPP needs a candidate “with no blemish and no scandals,” insisting that Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong stands out among all other aspirants. According to him, Mr. Agyapong has demonstrated capacity in job creation through the establishment of industries and has shown “at various levels” that he is not corrupt and cannot be tagged as such.
The Richardo Group CEO maintained that the NPP has a better chance of reclaiming power with a candidate who possesses these qualities. He urged delegates to carefully weigh their options “for the greater good of the party.”
Mr. Addo emphasized that the youth are in dire need of employment opportunities and appealed to delegates to vote not just based on personality, but for a candidate — such as Kennedy Agyapong — who can create jobs and restore hope in a system burdened by corruption.
