Former Assin Central MP and presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has held a private luncheon with 268 former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who served under the previous Akufo-Addo administration, as part of his campaign outreach ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
The gathering, held at his private office in Accra, came shortly after the NPP’s National Council confirmed January 31, 2026, as the date for the upcoming flagbearer election.
“Today, I had the honour of meeting with 268 former MMDCEs at my private office in Accra. We had a frank and forward-looking conversation about the future of our party and our beloved country. I emphasized the urgent need to rebuild our party on the foundation of unity, fairness, and respect for grassroots leadership,” Agyapong posted on Facebook on June 19.
During the interaction, he did not shy away from addressing frustrations many of the former local government officials had expressed over their treatment during the previous administration. He said the centralisation of authority in Accra stifled their ability to function effectively and stalled progress at the local level.
“I also reaffirmed my decision to contest in the upcoming primaries and shared my deep concern about the unfair treatment all MMDCEs faced under the previous administration. Excessive centralization in Accra undermined local governance, stripped MMDCEs of real power, and stalled development in our communities,” he said.
Agyapong promised that, if elected, he would restore authority to local officials and reinvigorate grassroots governance to accelerate development.
He told the gathering, “under my leadership, that will change. It’s time to restore dignity to public service and give real power back to the people on the ground. Together, we will rebuild and rise.”
The lunch meeting marks a strategic move by Agyapong to rally support from the party’s grassroots leaders, many of whom have expressed dissatisfaction with their sidelining in recent years.
This event also follows a similar show of support received by former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who recently hosted over 60 NPP MPs who pledged allegiance to his renewed presidential ambition.
Kennedy Agyapong, however, remains confident in his message of internal reform and decentralisation as he mounts a strong bid to lead the NPP into the 2028 general elections.
