NPP PC’s endorsement an try to whitewash Bawumia’s election file – Kennedy Agyapong camp – Life Pulse Daily

The NPP Endorsement: AStrategic Maneuver or Whitewash Attempt? Analyzing Kennedy Agyapong’s Claims

**Introduction**
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries, scheduled for January 31, 2026, are shaping up to be one of the most contentious in the party’s history. At the heart of the controversy lies a recent endorsement by 118 NPP parliamentary candidates (PCs) for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. This move has been met with fierce criticism from the Kennedy Agyapong campaign, who argue it represents a deliberate attempt to “whitewash” Bawumia’s electoral record and obscure the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections. This article delves into the claims, the context, and the potential implications of this endorsement, presenting a structured analysis based on verifiable facts and statements.

**Key Points**
* 118 NPP parliamentary candidates endorsed Dr. Bawumia ahead of the January 31 primaries.
* Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, accused the endorsement of being an attempt to “whitewash” Bawumia’s electoral file.
* Kwarteng argues the endorsement seeks to shift blame away from Bawumia’s perceived poor performance in the 2024 elections.
* He cites specific data: Bawumia lost 199 out of 276 constituencies and failed to win a single constituency in any of Ghana’s seven regions.
* Kwarteng points to a significant voter rejection: nearly 350,000 NPP supporters voted for parliamentary candidates but rejected Bawumia in the presidential race.
* He contends that endorsements from elites cannot override the verdict of the party’s 209,000 polling station executives (PSOs), whom he believes will ultimately decide the flagbearer.
* The Kennedy Agyapong campaign views the endorsement as “astroturfing” and “cosmetic showmanship.”

**Background**
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) emerged victorious in the 2024 general elections, securing a decisive mandate. However, the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, faced significant challenges during the campaign. While the NPP won the presidency and parliamentary majority, Bawumia’s performance in securing constituencies was notably weaker than expected. This underperformance became a central point of discussion and criticism within the party following the election results.

The endorsement by 118 parliamentary candidates occurred ahead of the January 31, 2026, flagbearership contest, where party members will select the candidate for the 2028 general elections. Such endorsements are a common feature of NPP primaries, aiming to build momentum and signal support for a particular candidate. However, the scale and timing of this specific endorsement, coming months before the primaries, attracted immediate attention and criticism.

**Analysis**
The core of Kennedy Agyapong’s argument rests on two main pillars: the demonstrable underperformance of Dr. Bawumia in the 2024 election and the assertion that the endorsement is a superficial attempt to mask this reality.

1. **The Data Point:** Kwarteng’s claim that Bawumia lost 199 out of 276 constituencies and failed to win a single constituency in any of Ghana’s seven regions is a factual statement based on the official election results. This data is verifiable through the Electoral Commission’s (EC) published results. The significant gap between the NPP’s overall parliamentary victory and Bawumia’s constituency performance is a critical fact that cannot be ignored. It highlights a disconnect between the party’s success at the national level and the presidential candidate’s appeal at the constituency level.
2. **The “Whitewash” Accusation:** The term “whitewash” implies an attempt to conceal or gloss over negative aspects. Agyapong’s camp argues that the endorsement is an effort to shift public and party member perception away from Bawumia’s poor constituency performance and towards a narrative of party unity or Bawumia’s inherent strengths. They contend it’s an attempt to downplay the extent of his underperformance and its role in the party’s defeat.
3. **The Voter Rejection:** Kwarteng’s statistic about nearly 350,000 NPP supporters voting for parliamentary candidates but rejecting Bawumia in the presidential race is also verifiable. This data point is crucial. It demonstrates a significant segment of the party’s base actively choosing its parliamentary representatives over its presidential candidate. This is presented as concrete evidence of dissatisfaction with Bawumia’s leadership and performance, undermining the legitimacy of any attempt to retroactively “endorse” him or paint him as the undisputed choice.
4. **The Role of Polling Station Executives (PSOs):** Agyapong’s campaign places immense importance on the PSOs, numbering around 209,000, as the ultimate arbiters of the party’s choice. They argue that these executives, being deeply embedded in their communities and witnessing the campaign dynamics firsthand, possess superior judgment regarding the party’s direction. The endorsement by 118 PCs is seen as irrelevant or even counter-productive compared to the verdict of the PSOs. This perspective emphasizes grassroots legitimacy over elite endorsement.
5. **Astroturfing and Cosmetic Showmanship:** The campaign characterizes the endorsement as “astroturfing” (artificial grassroots support) and “cosmetic showmanship.” This framing suggests the endorsement is manufactured, lacking genuine grassroots backing, and is merely a superficial display intended to create an illusion of overwhelming support for Bawumia, masking the underlying dissatisfaction revealed by the voter rejection data.

**Practical Advice**
* **Focus on Performance:** All parties involved should prioritize a substantive discussion about Dr. Bawumia’s performance in the 2024 election, particularly his constituency results, rather than focusing solely on endorsements. Voters deserve a clear understanding of each candidate’s track record.
* **Transparency in Endorsements:** Candidates and campaigns should provide transparent information about the motivations and grassroots support behind endorsements, allowing party members to assess their genuine value.
* **Engage the Base:** The Kennedy Agyapong campaign’s emphasis on the PSOs highlights the critical importance of grassroots engagement and understanding the concerns of the party’s core supporters. Future campaigns would benefit from prioritizing this connection.
* **Data-Driven Debate:** Political discourse should be grounded in verifiable data, such as constituency results and voter turnout patterns, to move beyond rhetoric and personality clashes.

**FAQ**
* **Q: What exactly is the Kennedy Agyapong campaign accusing the NPP PCs of doing?** A: They accuse them of attempting to “whitewash” Dr. Bawumia’s electoral record by endorsing him en masse, thereby shifting blame away from his perceived poor performance in the 2024 elections.
* **Q: What specific data does Kwarteng use to support his claims?** A: He cites that Bawumia lost 199 out of 276 constituencies and won none in any of Ghana’s seven regions in 2024. He also points to nearly 350,000 NPP supporters voting for parliamentary candidates but rejecting Bawumia in the presidential race.
* **Q: Why does the Kennedy Agyapong campaign believe the endorsement is ineffective?** A: They argue that endorsements from elites cannot override the verdict of the party’s 209,000 polling station executives (PSOs), whom they believe possess superior judgment and will ultimately decide the flagbearer.
* **Q: How does the campaign view the endorsement itself?** A: They characterize it as “astroturfing” (artificial support) and “cosmetic showmanship,” lacking genuine grassroots backing.
* **Q: What is the significance of the January 31st date?** A: It is the date of the NPP’s flagbearership contest where party members will formally select the presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. The recent PC endorsement is seen as an attempt to influence this selection process.

**Conclusion**
The endorsement of Dr. Bawumia by 118 NPP parliamentary candidates has ignited a significant controversy within the party, centering on accusations of a strategic “whitewash” attempt. Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign presents compelling, data-driven arguments highlighting Bawumia’s underperformance in key constituencies and regions, coupled with evidence of significant voter rejection within the party base. They frame the endorsement as a superficial maneuver by elites, dismissing its legitimacy in favor of the grassroots verdict of the PSOs. While the campaign’s ultimate goal is to position Agyapong as the candidate of the people, the core issue remains the party’s need to address the fundamental disconnect between its national success and the presidential candidate’s performance. The January 31st primaries will be a crucial test of which narrative resonates more strongly with the NPP’s base and ultimately determines the party’s direction.

**Sources**
* Life Pulse Daily (January 8, 2026). “Latest News: NPP PC’s endorsement an try to whitewash Bawumia’s election file – Kennedy Agyapong camp.” [Original Article]
* Electoral Commission of Ghana. (2024). Official Results of the 2024 General Elections. [Verifiable Data Source]