Bawumia’s Bono Region tour disrupted by fiery clash between Kennedy Agyapong and Abronye

Tensions flared during Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s national thank-you tour stop in the Bono Region on Monday, as a heated exchange erupted between former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and Kwame Baffoe Abronye, the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman.

The tour, which was intended to unite the party following its flagbearer primaries, quickly became a platform for open discord in Berekum, revealing the growing rifts within the NPP.

The confrontation began when Abronye, in his welcome address, subtly criticized certain party members for their lack of unity. He accused some of making divisive public statements that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had exploited during the 2024 elections. Abronye supported his claims with references to a post-election report by a fact-finding committee led by Prof. Mike Ocquaye.

The tension escalated when Abronye opposed Agyapong’s suggestion of granting amnesty to suspended or former NPP members. He argued that such a move would undermine party discipline and embolden indiscipline. He also blamed those pushing for reconciliation for contributing to the party’s electoral losses by publicly airing grievances.

Kennedy Agyapong, visibly upset, responded with sharp criticism of Abronye’s leadership. He made it clear that he would not be silenced by anyone in the party and suggested that individuals who didn’t contribute financially should not dominate discussions about the party’s future.

Kennedy Agyapong also criticized Abronye’s stewardship, pointing out that the NPP’s parliamentary representation in the Bono Region had dwindled to just one seat, and a direct result of what he called poor leadership in the region.

Abronye defended his record, arguing that the region’s declining parliamentary performance was due to years of neglect from the central government. Despite Bono’s strong support for the NPP in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Abronye highlighted the lack of significant development in the region, particularly in infrastructure, from 2017 to 2024.