Former Assin Central MP and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong has clarified the controversy that marred the signing of the peace pact ahead of the primaries on January 31.
Addressing NPP delegates in the Assin North Constituency of the Central Region, Mr Agyapong alleged that Abetifi MP and fellow aspirant Dr Bryan Acheampong mistakenly signed against his name because the document was not carefully read.
“They didn’t read the document. In my case, Hon Dr Bryan Acheampong signed at my place because he didn’t read. Me, am I a PhD holder? Three PhD holders. That’s how they sell Ghana by signing papers without reading,” he said.
His remarks come after public debate over his conduct at the peace pact signing ceremony, where he openly questioned parts of the agreement before appending his signature.
The pact, which all five aspirants eventually signed, binds contestants to party unity, respect for the electoral process and outcomes, and restraint by their supporters to maintain peace before, during and after the primaries.
He questioned how aspirants with doctoral degrees could, in his view, overlook such a basic detail before signing.
“As a native of Assin Dompim, my degree is a qualification by experience. So immediately they gave me the document, I started reading,” he stated.
Mr Agyapong explained that his main concern was a clause which, he said, compelled candidates to accept the election outcome even if they believed the process had been flawed.
“When I got to point two on the document, it instructed us to sign and agree that, however the election goes, whether you’ve been cheated or not, you should accept it. That’s where I questioned the document because of precedence,” he said.
He pointed to what he described as irregularities in the 2023 NPP primaries to justify his stance.
“The last time someone was given 100 per cent, and in that area I got 92. In Nchumuru, I got 104, but I was given 14. In Bunkpurugu, I was given zero, although two people testified that they voted for me,” he said.
“All these happened in the past, and then today you put a document before me that I should sign. I said I won’t sign. If you don’t correct some things that went wrong, I won’t sign.”
He added that experience had taught him not to sign documents blindly.
“The so-called knowledgeable men signed. That’s how they go to the World Bank to drink tea and sign their death warrant. I am speaking to you from experience,” he added.
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