NPP, NDC Communicators clash over Kennedy Agyapong’s Corruption allegations, Afari Military Hospital claims
NPP and NDC communicators in Navrongo Central traded arguments over Kennedy Agyapong's corruption allegations, the Agenda 111 programme and the status of the Afari Military Hospital.
The Navrongo Central Constituency Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bayivere, and a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team in the constituency, Mercy Abada, have clashed over recent remarks by former Assin Central MP and former NPP presidential aspirant, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
The debate, which aired on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, June 24, focused on Agyapong’s allegations of corruption in government contract awards, the stalled Agenda 111 hospital projects and the completion status of the Afari Military Hospital.
Agyapong recently alleged that some individuals within the previous NPP administration took percentages from government contracts, contributing to delays in the execution of major national projects.
Reacting to the claims, Bayivere dismissed the allegations, describing them as the frustrations of a politician struggling to come to terms with successive defeats in the NPP’s presidential primaries.
“I sympathise with Kennedy Agyapong. It is not easy to lose an election, especially twice. Most of what he is saying now is born out of bitterness and frustration following his loss.”
Bayivere argued that if the former lawmaker possessed credible evidence of corruption, he should have submitted it to the appropriate state investigative agencies instead of making public accusations.
“If Kennedy really has evidence about contracts and alleged corruption, we have institutions like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, EOCO and the Police CID. What prevented him from reporting these issues when the NPP was in government?” he questioned.
He also rejected claims that the Akufo-Addo administration failed to make significant progress on the Afari Military Hospital, insisting that substantial work had been undertaken before the NPP left office.
However, Abada defended Agyapong’s comments, arguing that the former presidential aspirant was speaking candidly about the performance of the previous NPP administration.
“He’s telling them the truth, and they don’t want to hear it. The NPP spent eight years in office and did not do much to operationalise the hospital. Instead of addressing the substance of his claims, they are attacking him,” she said.
According to Abada, information from officials of the Ministry of Defence indicates that the Afari Military Hospital is approximately 60 per cent complete, contrary to claims that the facility was nearly finished before the NPP exited office.
She further accused the NPP of applying double standards on issues of accountability, questioning why party officials had not shown the same level of concern over expenditure on the National Cathedral project and matters relating to former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
“The same energy being used to attack Kennedy Agyapong should be used to demand answers on the National Cathedral expenditure and other matters of public concern,” she argued.
The discussion also touched on internal developments within the NPP, with Abada suggesting that the party was struggling to manage dissenting opinions. Bayivere, however, rejected that assertion, maintaining that Agyapong’s comments should not be interpreted as evidence of a crisis within the party.
The exchange comes amid growing public debate over Agyapong’s recent remarks, which have generated strong reactions within the NPP and reignited national discussions on accountability, transparency and governance.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
