Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has expressed disappointment in former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s public endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
Kufuor’s endorsement, delivered during a nationwide address on Sunday, November 17, praised Dr. Bawumia's leadership and urged Ghanaians to vote for him to secure Ghana’s progress and stability. However, Prof. Gyampo, in a social media post on November 18, described this move as a betrayal of Alan Kyerematen, a longstanding loyalist of the NPP who left the party in September 2023 to form the Movement for Change and run as an independent presidential candidate.
According to Prof. Gyampo, Kufuor's endorsement appears to disregard Kyerematen’s sacrifices and loyalty to him and the party. He cited Kyerematen’s decision in 1996 to step aside as the preferred candidate of the Young Executives Forum to support Kufuor’s presidential bid and his concession during the closely contested 2007 NPP primaries to avoid a runoff.
Prof. Gyampo suggested that Kufuor’s public support for Bawumia might be rooted in personal grievances over Kyerematen’s perceived lack of direct engagement with him. “I know this makes you feel a bit slighted, but you are a statesman,” he remarked, urging Kufuor to prioritize unity and reconciliation over partisan politics.
He further emphasized that Kufuor’s role as a statesman should be to remain above political endorsements, fostering unity rather than division. Prof. Gyampo warned that aligning with factions in party politics could undermine Kufuor’s legacy as a unifying figure in Ghana’s democratic history.
Reflecting on Kyerematen’s decision to part ways with the NPP, Prof. Gyampo argued that Kufuor’s comments could deepen divisions within the party and among its supporters. He also stressed the importance of leaders maintaining impartiality, especially at critical political moments, to ensure the cohesion and integrity of democratic institutions.
Prof. Gyampo concluded his remarks with a cautionary proverb: “If a bird decides to eat on the ground, it becomes a prey to traps set on the ground,” implying that engaging in partisan politics could expose Kufuor to criticism and tarnish his legacy.
Alan Kyerematen’s independent candidacy introduces a new dimension to the 2024 elections, raising questions about the future of the NPP and its ability to maintain unity amidst shifting loyalties.
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