In a significant show of force and political momentum, Honourable Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Member of Parliament and renowned businessman, hosted 268 former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at his private office in Accra today to engage on key issues facing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the nation at large.
During the closed-door meeting, Mr. Agyapong officially declared his intention to contest in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries, asking for the MMDCEs’ support. In a spirited and detailed address, he outlined his vision for Ghana and emphasized the urgent need for practical leadership focused on job creation, economic empowerment, and decentralization.
He told the MMDCEs that he had walked the talk and had the requisite experience and knowledge to solve the greatest challenge in Ghana which is unemployment. “As of now, I employ over 7,500 Ghanaians across my businesses. My steel factory is logistically complete, we are only waiting on electricity from GRIDCo. Once operational, it will provide an additional 1,000 jobs. This is the kind of practical leader you need to lead this country”
Hon Agyapong also voiced strong concerns over what he described as the unfair treatment of MMDCEs under the previous administration. He criticized the excessive centralization of decision-making in Accra, noting that MMDCEs were stripped of the autonomy needed to address local development priorities.
“You could not even award contracts or initiate projects that directly responded to the needs of your people. Everything was controlled from Accra,” he asserted.
He pledged that, under his leadership, governance would be radically decentralized. MMDCEs, he promised, would have more authority to determine, implement, and manage development initiatives in their districts.
Hon. Agyapong also used the occasion to address several misconceptions and controversies surrounding his public persona, urging the MMDCEs to look beyond media narratives and judge him by his record of service and achievement.
The mood in the room turned electric as the MMDCEs, visibly inspired by his message, rose spontaneously to chant “wo y3 y3 yaa, Ken b3ba!” to wit “you can’t stop Ken from coming.” The chant echoed a growing sentiment among many in the party’s grassroots that Hon. Agyapong represents a bold and refreshing alternative.
At the close of the meeting, several MMDCEs pledged their unwavering support for his presidential bid, describing him as a transformational leader who understands both the challenges of governance and the demands of enterprise.
