By Daniel Bampoe
Former Assin Central Member of Parliament and failed New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has reignited the debate on political corruption after alleging that a contract worth $55 million linked to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) was offered to his wife on condition that an upfront percentage be paid before the award could be secured.
The outspoken businessman and politician made the explosive claim during an interview on Net 2 TV, responding to criticism from some members of his own party over comments he made about the stalled Afari Military Hospital project.
According to Agyapong, corruption in public procurement remains deeply rooted within the political system and transcends party lines.
He claimed that while many politicians publicly portray themselves as champions of accountability, questionable practices involving contract awards continue behind the scenes.
“In the NDC too, I was there when somebody brought a contract to my wife worth about $55 million.
“She was asked to pay an advance percentage before they would award it to her,” Agyapong alleged, suggesting that demands for kickbacks remain a common feature in the awarding of public contracts.
His latest allegations come amid growing tensions between him and sections of the opposition NPP following the party’s crushing defeat in the 2024 general elections.
The former presidential hopeful has become increasingly vocal about what he describes as failures in governance and leadership within both major political parties.
A dispute over the Afari Military Hospital project in the Ashanti Region initially triggered Kennedy Agyapong’s remarks.
He criticized the NPP for failing to complete and operationalise the facility despite spending eight years in government under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The 500-bed military hospital, which was initiated during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, has remained non-operational despite successive governments committing resources toward its completion.
The project has passed through the administrations of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, President John Dramani Mahama and former President Akufo-Addo with the project now at 98% completion.
Speaking candidly about the project, Agyapong rejected accusations that he was bitter over events surrounding the NPP’s internal politics and presidential primaries.
Instead, he insisted that his criticism stemmed from genuine concern for national development.
“The NPP says I am bitter. They think it is because of what happened during the campaign. They cannot silence me,” he stated.
He further accused officials connected to major government projects of engaging in contract trading and demanding commissions from contractors.
“If Ghanaians want answers, they should ask whether even one Agenda 111 hospital was completed.
Contracts were awarded to other people and commissions were allegedly taken,” he claimed.
The former lawmaker also warned party executives against attempts to suppress his views, cautioning that he possesses information capable of exposing further wrongdoing within the political establishment.
“NPP should be careful with me. If they provoke me, I will spill the beans all over the place,” he declared.
His comments have sparked significant debate within political circles, with some party members calling for his bluff. Critics argue that his repeated public criticisms risk damaging party unity at a time when the NPP is attempting to rebuild after its electoral defeat.
Meanwhile, a fact-check challenged one of Kennedy Agyapong’s claims regarding the Afari Military Hospital.
The former MP had stated that the NPP government “didn’t do anything” during its eight years in office to complete the project.
However, records cited by the fact-check indicate that the Akufo-Addo administration inherited the project at approximately 40 percent completion in 2017 and advanced it to about 98 percent completion by late 2024.
The report also noted that the government paid millions of dollars in contract variations and completion costs during its tenure leaving an outstanding balance of $500,000.
While the fact-check concluded that Kennedy Agyapong’s assertion that the NPP “didn’t do anything” was inaccurate, it acknowledged that the hospital had not been fully operationalised before the party left office in January 2025.
