NPP Race: Forged Through Tragedy, Called to Lead – The Making of Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong: Ken Bediako Writes
As Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong prepares to launch his NPP Presidential bid under the theme "Service, Sacrifice, and Selflessness," his life story emerges as a powerful testament to resilience, leadership, and grassroots experience.
- Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong will launch his NPP Presidential bid on July 29
- His life story reflects a deep commitment to leadership and party unity
- KAA brings decades of experience in connecting with people and leading from the front.
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, a significant chapter will be written in Ghana’s political narrative as Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong (KAA) officially declares his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership.
The campaign launch will take place at Fiore Heights on Ring Road Central, Accra, under the theme “Going Back to Our Roots: Service, Sacrifice, and Selflessness.”
A massive edifice within Accra’s political corridor has already been fully branded to serve as the headquarters of this campaign—a campaign built not on slogans, but on the soul of a man forged through personal tragedy and shaped by public service.
A Life Etched in Pain, Molded by Purpose
The narrative of Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is one of fortitude. In 1982, Ghana was rocked by the gruesome abduction and murder of High Court Judge Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong—his father—along with three other justices. That singular event, seared into the conscience of the nation, also marked a turning point in the young life of KAA, then a university student. Many would have crumbled. KAA did not.
As scripture says in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” And indeed, he did. Returning to complete his Civil Engineering studies at the University of Science and Technology (UST), KAA channeled his grief into purpose. His determination to honor his father’s legacy birthed a lifelong journey of public service.
The Sports Broadcaster Who Learned Leadership in the Trenches
Long before political office beckoned, KAA found his voice behind a sports microphone. His love for football—particularly Asante Kotoko and Liverpool—and boxing was not simply recreational; it was instructional. As Chairman of Kotoko Supporters Union (Circle 48, UST), he honed the art of grassroots mobilization, fundraising, and unity.
He fondly remembers rallying fellow students to man the gates during Asante Kotoko’s African Cup matches in 1982, a selfless effort that significantly boosted match revenue. Those formative years taught him that real leadership happens under the blazing sun, shoulder to shoulder with the people.
KAA’s sports memories are laced with humor and humility. During his Contract Management studies, he famously jotted down Liverpool’s iconic 1986 Double-Winning Team in his notebooks. He also brought back the famed Mfantsipim boxing nights at UST, combining leadership with entertainment—a rare ability to connect people through shared passions.
A Candidate of Unity in a Fractured Party
Today, the NPP stands at a crossroads—struggling with internal divisions and a widening trust gap with the public. It needs not just a leader but a unifier. KAA, with his calm charisma, vision, and authentic connection to party roots, emerges as that leader.
His campaign theme—Service, Sacrifice, and Selflessness—is more than rhetoric. It is the essence of his life journey. It is this journey that Ken Bediako, veteran sports journalist, reflects upon: a journey of a man who rose from personal tragedy to national relevance, learning through sport, bonding through people, and now, stepping up with a solemn pledge to restore hope.
As the July 29 declaration approaches, all eyes will be on Fiore Heights. But more importantly, hearts across the NPP and Ghana will be watching to see if this is the return of not just a man—but of the party’s forgotten soul.
By Ken Bediako, Veteran Sports Journalist
