My attention has been drawn to a video in which I am heard advising delegates in Yendi during the 2023 NPP presidential primaries not to vote for Hon Kennedy Agyepong due to his remarks in the Western and Central regions.

He had stated that northerners were given too many sector ministerial positions by President Nana Akufo-Addo, thereby denying others opportunities.

For the avoidance of doubt he said, "we were here in the western region when they appointed the vice president from the north, the Interior Minister from the north, Defence Minister, Sports Minister, Lands Minister, Tourism Minister from the north. Why? Are they the only ones who vote?" He repeated this same statement and add more accusations against northerners at a program in the Central Region.

In reality, only six northerners held sector Ministerial positions out approximately 26 Ministers at the time. 

Furthermore, Hon Kennedy Agyepong publicly questioned why President John Dramani Mahama, Hon Hassan Ayariga and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia were candidates for their respective parties, implying that they were not the only suitable individuals.

As the coordinator of northern appointees at that time, I felt compelled to respond to these biased and ethnocentric statements. During a campaign visit to Yendi, the capital of Dagbon, I advised the people not to vote for Hon Kennedy Agyepong citing his lack of good intentions towards Northerners.

This 2023 video has been misleadingly presented by Hon Kennedy Agyepong and his team as a recent recording. I must emphasize that since responding to his negative remarks in 2023, I have not mentioned Hon Kennedy Agyepong's name in any of my campaign engagements.

I urge all well-meaning Ghanaians to disregard this recycled video, which Hon Kennedy Agyepong and his team are attempting to portray as a new video from the 2025 campaign season.

It is puzzling that Hon Kennedy Agyepong, aware of the video's date and time would still release it and pretend that it is new. He has alleged that he possesses video and audio evidence of northern MPs including myself, engaging in tribal campaign against him and the Akan people in the north.

I challenge him to produce these videos and audios. I can confidently assert that Hon Kennedy Agyepong and his team have no such evidence against us and should in fact introspect when searching for individuals who engage in tribal politics. Hon Kennedy Agyepong is aware that personal promises he made to me and some other northern MPs would have secured him our support if we were driven by self-interest.

Let me put on record that northerners in the NPP have never been tribalistic or ethnocentric. We have always stood for a candidate who we believe is the best to lead the NPP. In 1996, Hon Malik Alhassan contested the NPP Presidential primaries but the northern delegates did not support him but rather chose to support President John A Kufour. Again in 2007 H.E Aliu Mahama the then sitting Vice President contested to become the NPP candidate and the northern delegates did not support him but rather supported President Nana AkufoAddo. 

In fact no single MP supported H.E Aliu Mahama though he was the sitting Vice President. We are supporting Dr Mahamudu Bawumia today because we believe he is the best to lead and not because he comes from the north. However, our priority is Ghana's progress, which is why we are supporting Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a man who we believe is the best candidate to lead the NPP to victory in the 2028 general elections.

This is precisely why we have collectively chosen not to respond to Hon Kennedy Agyepong's insults towards northerners during his recent Abuakwa meeting where he stated that we the northerners are a minority group and are unfit to lead. It is unfortunate and unacceptable for a presidential candidate to imply that someone is unfit to lead due to his ethnicity. I am convinced that the NPP delegates will overwhelmingly vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, upholding Ghana's long held spirit of diversity.

My colleagues and I will not react to Kennedy Agyepong's tribal insults this time around. We are managing the fallout from his insults and those from some of his supporters in the north, so the least they can do is leave us alone without seeking to further lie about us. We have tolerated this disrespect for far too long and we are tired. 

Let me reiterate, for emphasis, that I, Dominic Nitiwul, has never mentioned Hon Kennedy Agyepong's name negatively in this 2025 campaign, despite having every reason to do so and anyone including Hon Kennedy Agyepong who has contrarily evidence should bring it forward. We have chosen to manage things quietly because of the unity in the NPP. 

It must not be said that we are cowards or that we have sold out our people. One cannot insult northerners in 2023 and 2025 and expect me not to react, only to have my reaction replayed as if i made those remarks in 2025. I was privileged to serve as the Deputy Minority Leader on the ticket of the NPP at the age of 35, a position i held without blemish for four good years.

I was also privileged to serve as the Defence Minister of Ghana at the age of 39, a position I held without blemish for eight good years. Throughout my tenure, i did not engage in corrupt practices, i am not rich and i do not come from a rich home. 

All I have in this world is my reputation and my abilities as well as my qualities and I will never allow anyone including Hon Kennedy Agyepong to tarnish my reputation. God bless Ghana and the NPP. Signed: Dominic Nitiwul (MP)

Powered by Froala Editor