Physician, author, and politician Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy says former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s Thank You Tour is really a relaunch of his flagbearer campaign, as the opposition party struggles to reconnect with the Ghanaian public. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, April 28, he dismissed the tour’s official purpose and questioned its timing and sincerity.
“I actually think that we need an Apology Tour rather than a Thank You Tour,” he said. “We should be apologising to the country for our bad governance.” He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had lost credibility in the eyes of the public and needed to do more than offer gratitude.
“We should also have an accountability process in which we should hold to account the leaders of our previous government and agencies whose misgovernance, arrogance and corruption caused our defeat,” he stressed. “That will give us more credibility with the public.” According to Dr. Kennedy, the internal issues within the party have not been resolved, despite public appearances suggesting otherwise.
He described the presidential primaries that produced Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the flagbearer as divisive and even violent. “The primary that led to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s selection was characterised by a little bit of rancour,” he said. “Someone lost an eye. There was violence actually.”
He added that the unrest had not ended. “I am told that even on this Thank You Tour some slaps have been exchanged,” he revealed. “Which shows that there is a need for more behind-the-scenes reconciliation and other things before we take it public.” Dr. Kennedy did not mince words about what he believes is the real purpose of the tour.
“It is clear that Dr. Bawumia is trying to make his case ahead of his competitors,” he said. “Everybody knows that.” For him, the party’s actions suggest it is still focused on image and political advantage rather than accountability and healing. “We are jumping steps,” he said.
“We need to come clean before we move forward.”
By: Abubakar Ibrahim
