In what many have described as a bold political maneuver, former Western North Regional Minister Joojo Rocky Obeng has publicly declared his support for Kennedy Agyapong, a former Member of Parliament for Assin Central and one of the key aspirants in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries. While the endorsement may seem like a show of loyalty and commitment to the party’s future, it raises serious questions about the former minister’s track record and the political judgment behind such a move.
During his tenure as Regional Minister, the NPP witnessed some of its most devastating electoral setbacks in the Western North Region. The party lost its grip on the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai seat—a constituency the party had held since 2004—under Obeng’s watch. Even more troubling was the loss of the Akontombra and Sefwi Wiawso constituencies, signaling a broader erosion of party confidence and support in the region.
The root causes of these defeats are not difficult to trace. Many grassroots party members have long lamented Obeng’s lack of engagement with party faithful. Despite holding a position that required him to unify and energize the party base, he was notably absent from party meetings and events. Under his leadership, key party structures—particularly the youth wing and communicators—were left without necessary support or direction, creating a vacuum that weakened the NPP’s organizational strength in the region.
It is perplexing that someone whose leadership coincided with such political decline would position himself as a kingmaker or strategic player in the party’s future direction. Donating a property in East Legon and pledging spiritual and financial support to Kennedy Agyapong may sound noble, but it cannot erase the deep scars left on the party’s regional structure during his time in office. If this is truly about loyalty and commitment to the New Patriotic Party, one would ask: why didn’t he donate that same property in East Legon to support the party’s national campaign during the crucial 2024 general elections? That would have been a more direct and impactful demonstration of his commitment to the party’s success—not just to a preferred candidate.
Loyalty to a presidential aspirant should be based not only on personal relationships or perceived business acumen but on a demonstrated ability to win and maintain political power. By endorsing a candidate after contributing to the party’s losses in a crucial region, Joojo Rocky Obeng’s move seems less like a well-thought-out political strategy and more like an attempt to redeem his image through association with a popular figure.
The NPP must take stock of past leadership failures and build its future on competence, accountability, and genuine grassroots engagement. Any endorsement or support from past leaders must be scrutinized through the lens of their track record, not just their rhetoric. Party faithful, particularly in the Western North Region, deserve better. They deserve leaders who show up, listen, and deliver results—not just lofty declarations and symbolic gestures.
By: HON. ADJEITEY JNR
Political Commentator & Deputy TESCON Coordinator, Western North Region
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