Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong has announced his withdrawal from the nationwide “Thank You Tour” being undertaken by the party’s 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The move comes in the wake of a violent incident in Kumasi, where a student believed to be aligned with Agyapong was stabbed during the tour’s stop at Bantama.
Speaking at an impromptu press conference in Kumasi on Wednesday morning, the former Assin Central MP cited growing concerns about the safety of his team. He emphasized that while Dr. Bawumia had invited him to join the tour in the interest of promoting party unity, recent events indicate that the party is not practicing the peace it publicly advocates.
“I want to say a big thank you to everybody, and because of what happened last night in Bantama, I’m pulling out,” Agyapong said. “I don’t think I can protect my team enough, so it’s best for us to withdraw and allow Dr. Bawumia to continue his campaign.”
Despite his decision to step away from the tour, Agyapong reaffirmed his loyalty to the NPP, stating that he remains committed to the party and its values. He clarified that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as a sign of disloyalty or disinterest in the party’s success.
The tipping point, according to Agyapong, included a confrontation with Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, in Berekum, as well as the stabbing of a KNUST student during the Bantama event. He described these incidents as part of a pattern of intimidation targeting him and his supporters.
“These forms of intimidation will not drive me out of the party. We’ve been building this party since 1992, and I won’t be scared away,” he said. “I remain a loyal member, calling for peace—not violence.”
Agyapong also addressed the circulation of what he termed false narratives surrounding the Bantama incident. He dismissed claims that his supporters were fighting over GH¢2,000, stating instead that GH¢1,000 was handed to students by one of his team members before allegedly being confiscated by security personnel linked to Ali Suraj, a fellow party figure. The chaos that followed, he said, resulted in a stabbing and gunfire.
He appealed to his supporters to remain calm and assured them that he would pursue justice for the injured student. He also urged party communicators to avoid misinformation, warning that false narratives would only damage the NPP’s image and undermine efforts at unity.
“In a situation like this, the party should be honest and apologetic,” he stressed. “Defending wrongdoing with false information will only harm the cause of unity we’re all preaching.”
Agyapong concluded by underscoring his continued dedication to the NPP, insisting that his call for peace should not be misinterpreted as weakness or withdrawal from party activities.
