By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has launched a fresh attack on his rivals in the party’s leadership race, declaring that any candidate whose economic vision begins with a trip to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already failed Ghanaians.
In a fiery tweet that has since stirred debate within political circles, the Assin Central legislator positioned himself as the only aspirant with a plan to build a self-reliant economy, distancing himself from what he described as the “IMF dependency mindset.”
“You want to lead Ghana, yet your main concern is who can negotiate best with the IMF? Let me be clear: If your vision for Ghana starts with a trip to the IMF, you have already failed,” Agyapong wrote.
His remarks are widely viewed as a thinly veiled criticism of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who chaired the Economic Management Team when Ghana entered its current IMF programme. Dr. Bawumia is also considered one of the frontrunners in the flagbearer race.
Mr. Agyapong’s rhetoric taps into growing public frustration over Ghana’s repeated reliance on external bailouts to address fiscal and structural challenges. By shifting the conversation, he has sought to frame the NPP’s upcoming leadership contest around long-term economic independence rather than short-term crisis management.
“If your campaign message is centred on who can best negotiate with the IMF, then you have no business leading this country,” Agyapong stressed.
The NPP is preparing to elect its flagbearer ahead of the 2028 general elections, with aspirants sharpening their economic messages as the nation grapples with inflation, debt, and rising living costs.
While other contenders have promised competent negotiations and crisis management, Agyapong’s campaign is pivoting towards a bold pledge: ending the cycle of IMF reliance and charting a course for sustainable national growth.
