An analysis by Kenneth Agyei KURANCHIE
It was always coming. Before the first vote had been cast, it had been predicted that Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, would win a landslide on Saturday. And the epic victory came to pass. Before the voting started, analysts and polls had put Bawumia at performing at about 72%. At the end of the counting, certified results declared by the Electoral Commission put Bawumia with 629 votes, representing 68.15% of the total valid votes across the 17 centers. A performance that was quite close to the predictions.
The surprise (some would say unpleasant surprise) of the day was Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremateng, who came in with a dismal 95 votes (10.29%) of the votes. Before the votes had been counted, the general opinion was that Mr. Kyeremateng was coasting to a comfortable second place behind Bawumia. Now, with hard reality setting in, it is becoming increasingly obvious that he would be wise to accept an offer as Running Mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. That is Bawumia would deign to consider such a thought. After Saturday, many would believe that Bawumia would consider such an idea as a bother. And Bawumia would be right. Alan is losing any bargaining chip he had, with the speed of light.
On Saturday, however, the real revelation, was Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, who came second with 132 votes, representing 14.3% of total votes cast.
If anybody had reason by Saturday evening to break the Champaign, that person would have been Kennedy Agyapong. The fact is that whilst Saturday almost invariably killed Alan Kyeremateng’s presidential fortunes for good, Kennedy’s fortunes took a dramatic step for the good…well, that is, until he decided to commit political hara kiri with a disastrous telephone call to a radio station he owns, Oman FM in Accra.
I first saw Kennedy’s now famous ranting video in the Central Region on social media. I was with a friend, and his immediate reaction was to wonder who Mr. Agyapong was talking to. The person raised some relevant questions, as to whether the person Mr. Agyapong was complaining to, whether the person had the power to sanction President Akufo-Addo or Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for whatever was happening at the polling station in Cape Coast.
Do not forget that Mr. Agyapong is a stalwart of the Central Region. In fact, for years, he was considered as the single financial benefactor of the NPP in the region. So much so that it is believed he financed the region in the 2016 presidential campaign, for which he was to be given a ministerial seat, currently occupied by another stalwart from the region. This stalwart, who used to be a party executive, seems to wield more power in the region than Mr. Agyapong. But whatever the case, Mr. Agyapong was standing in his region, among his friends. And his reaction was totally at odds with his surroundings.
Then, of course, it turns out that Mr. Agyapong was speaking to his strongest media outlet, Oman FM. Indeed, it is my view, that on the day, the hosts and producers at Oman FM exercised a great deal of poor judgment. They should have disconnected Mr. Agyapong, as soon as he decided to go on his rampage.
Which leads me to the issue of whether Mr. Agyapong is serious about his presidential ambitions. If he is, then it is necessary to bring some facts to his attention, which are;
- Ghana has a sizeable and comfortable middle class, who have a deadly fear of hotheads.
- This middle class have a concept of the kind of person they would accept as President. Like it or not, this middle class are more comfortable with individuals like John Kufuor, John Mahama, Mahamudu Bawumia, and people of similar demeanor as their presidents. They do not like hotheads, I repeat, or people with reputations of being hotheads.
- Thirdly, if Mr. Agyapong is able to win the NPP race, a history of engaging in slanging matches with the likes of Afua Schwarzenegger would not be a plus to his ambitions. NPP would spend millions of communication fighting the image of Kennedy Agyapong engaging in cat fights, with uncertain outcome. Many had hoped he had grown out of his catfightng days, when he began developing presidential ambitions. Saturday proved them otherwise.
In conclusion, I will say that Kennedy, for his sake, for the sake of his party, needs a father figure, or an advisor who can look him in the eyes and tell him the truth, or a smack on the head when it is necessary.
You do not go about threatening Presidents of nations. Particularly when you have no reason to. It is a hotheaded behavior, not presidential in the extreme, and to be discouraged at all costs.
Saturday’s performance by Mr. Agyapong was brilliant. In a colourful political career, Saturday marked him as a truly amazing political force. It should have been his finest hour, until his ungovernable temper and uncontrollable mouth got in the way. As it is, what should have been a celebratory week, where his political achievements would have been celebrated, would be the week where we get to discuss his mouth.
On Saturday, Kennedy Agyapong needed a smack on the mouth.
