When Kennedy Agyapong Almost Walked Away From the NPP Peace Pact
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held a high-stakes peace pact signing ceremony at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, ahead of its flagbearer election on January 31. The pact was designed to publicly commit all presidential aspirants to unity, peaceful campaigning, and acceptance of the election outcome — a move meant to dampen internal tensions and show cohesion.
But what was supposed to be a routine political ritual nearly collapsed when Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, one of the leading aspirants, appeared to hesitate — and at one point threaten — not to sign the document. His refusal caused murmurs across the hall and left many observers wondering what was behind his strong reaction.
What Really Happened?
According to the Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Danquah Smith Buttey, the drama was sparked by what the leadership described as a typographical error in the peace pact document. A clause meant to say “we won’t accept” was mistakenly printed as “we will accept,” a change that completely altered the meaning of a key commitment. This discrepancy, identified by Agyapong, prompted him to initially decline to sign until it was corrected.
The acting chairman insisted the issue was purely technical and quickly fixed, after which all aspirants, including Agyapong, appended their signatures and the ceremony continued. He dismissed suggestions of underlying divisions, framing the hiccup as a simple flaw resolved through dialogue.
Different Perspectives From Within the Party
Not everyone agrees that an error was the cause:
- Kennedy Agyapong himself explained his hesitation differently — alleging that some aspirants signed without properly reading the pact, and even claiming on social media that Dr. Bryan Acheampong signed in his designated space on the document. Agyapong also said his main concern was a clause he believed compels candidates to accept results even if irregularities occur.
- Others inside the party, like the Elections Committee Chairman, Joseph Osei Owusu, said the concern wasn’t about text errors at all, but rather Agyapong’s desire for assurances of a fair, transparent process, especially given his past experience with primary elections. They assured him that proven election irregularities would be addressed under party rules.
- Meanwhile, some party figures have rejected the narrative of errors altogether, with aspirant Kwabena Agyapong insisting the document was familiar and without mistake, saying all aspirants had copies well before the event.
What It Means for NPP Unity
The incident has ignited debate inside and outside the NPP:
- Supporters of Agyapong see his stance as asserting thoroughness and accountability, demanding clear commitments on fairness before signing.
- Critics say the episode projected division at a moment when unity is crucial, and that procedural disagreements shouldn’t overshadow the pact’s intent.
Meanwhile, analysts suggest that peace pacts in politics are only as strong as the willingness of leaders to uphold them in practice, and that symbolic gestures must be backed by genuine trust and transparency within the party.
In the end, what looked like a nearly collapsed peace agreement turned into a vivid snapshot of internal NPP dynamics — where personality, principle, procedure, and politics all converged in front of the national spotlight.