Political activist, physician and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant Dr Arthur Kennedy has criticised the party's decision to refer former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to its National Disciplinary Committee, describing the petitions against him as "unwarranted."
Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, Dr Kennedy argued that Mr Agyapong's remarks on the stalled Afari Military Hospital project and alleged corruption within the party did not amount to a violation of the NPP's constitution.
"These petitions and therefore the resulting processes that Honourable Kennedy Agyapong is about to be subjected to are unwarranted," he said.
"Listening to Kennedy Agyapong's initial comments about the Afari hospital and even his subsequent explanations after he received criticism, I am at a loss to see how those statements amount to infringements of the party's constitution." - Dr Kennedy
Concerns Reflect Broader Sentiment
Dr Kennedy maintained that the former lawmaker merely voiced concerns widely shared by Ghanaians and members of the NPP regarding the Akufo-Addo administration's failure to complete and operationalise the Afari Military Hospital after eight years in office.
He noted that post-election review bodies, including the Michael Oquaye Committee and the Oti Boateng Committee in the Ashanti Region, had identified concerns similar to those raised by Mr Agyapong.
"The NPP inherited a partially completed Afari hospital and had eight years to complete it," he said. "For such an important project in a region that is critical to the party, not to be completed after eight years was a failure."
Dr Kennedy also referenced Mr Agyapong's claim that, as Chairman of Parliament's Defence and Interior Committee, he had been prevented from inspecting the facility by the then NPP government.
"If what Kennedy Agyapong is saying is factual, then proof itself becomes a defence. It is difficult to see how stating facts can become an offence," he added.
Calls for Accountability Over Discipline
The former presidential aspirant further questioned the party leadership's response to internal criticism, warning that it risks alienating members at a time when the NPP should be focused on rebuilding after its 2024 electoral defeat.
"Our politics has changed, but respectfully, those running the party seem unwilling to acknowledge that reality," he stated.
Dr Kennedy argued that allegations of corruption surrounding the implementation of Agenda 111 deserved thorough investigation rather than disciplinary proceedings against the person making the claims.
"He has alleged that Agenda 111 was undermined by corruption and that contracts were sold. If such allegations are being made, the people who should be answering questions are those who may have been involved in those activities." - Dr Kennedy
His remarks come after the NPP's National Executive Committee and National Council referred Mr Agyapong to the National Disciplinary Committee over petitions arising from recent public comments deemed detrimental to party unity and cohesion.
The committee has been given two weeks to investigate the petitions and submit its recommendations to the party leadership.
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