Bolgatanga: Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, a national campaign team member for Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong in the upcoming New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Presidential primary, asserts that Mr Agyapong is the sole candidate who embodies the party's tradition. He emphasized that despite all five aspirants being capable of leading the NPP as its flagbearer, Mr Agyapong, a businessman and former Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency, stands out as the most competent.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Nyantakyi highlighted Mr Agyapong's achievements in the private sector, particularly in job creation, which he believes aligns with the NPP's tradition. "As a private entrepreneur, Kennedy Agyapong has provided employment for over 7,000 individuals. With executive authority, he could generate numerous jobs for the youth who face unemployment," Mr Nyantakyi stated during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The campaign team official was in the Upper East Region to gather support from party delegates for Mr Agyapong ahead of the election set for January 31. Mr Nyantakyi emphasized the significance of addressing youth unemployment, noting that the youth constitute about 75 percent of the country's population. He cited data from the Ghana Statistical Service and the 2020 Ghana Population and Housing Census, indicating that individuals under 35 years make up 73 percent of the population, with many struggling to find employment.
Mr Nyantakyi pointed out that universities and tertiary institutions produce over 100,000 graduates annually, yet less than 15 percent secure employment within the same year. He argued that Mr Agyapong has a clear plan to tackle this issue by utilizing natural resources to establish factories and transform raw materials into semi-processed goods for export, thereby creating job opportunities.
He further praised Mr Agyapong's message of job creation and industrialization as the most appealing among his fellow aspirants. Mr Nyantakyi also commended Mr Agyapong's integrity, stating, "He is very honest, truthful, bold, and speaks truth to power. People even liken him to the reincarnate of Jerry Rawlings of the 1970s and 80s, asserting that Ghana needs such a leader to curb the country's indiscipline."
Mr Nyantakyi urged NPP delegates across the region to vote overwhelmingly for Mr Agyapong as the party's flagbearer, emphasizing that he alone presents a comprehensive message addressing national concerns.