Kennedy Agyapong: ‘If Your Vision Starts With The IMF, You’ve Already Failed’

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has taken aim at his rivals in the party’s leadership contest, criticising any economic agenda that begins with negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on September 6, Mr Agyapong argued that Ghana’s repeated reliance on IMF bailouts exposed weak leadership and failed vision.

“You want to lead Ghana, yet your main concern is who can negotiate best with the IMF? Let me be clear: If your vision for Ghana starts with a trip to the IMF, you have already failed,” he declared.

He stressed that his ambition was to make Ghana economically self-sufficient and independent of the IMF. “My vision is to build an economy so self-reliant and powerful that the IMF becomes irrelevant to our national conversation,” he stated.

His comments come as the NPP prepares for a crucial internal contest to select its presidential candidate for the 2028 general elections. Five aspirants have filed their nominations to compete in the flagbearer race: Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Ken Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.

The party’s Presidential Elections Committee, in a statement dated August 28, 2025, confirmed the submissions and assured members of a transparent and fair process. “The Committee assures all stakeholders of its commitment to a transparent, credible, and fair process, guided by the Party’s Constitution and Regulations, to ensure the integrity of the process,” Secretary William Yamoah noted.

The NPP is set to elect its flagbearer on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in what is expected to be a fiercely contested poll.

Source: Graphic.com.gh