Businessman and unsuccessful New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has said he will no longer allow himself to be taken for granted or disrespected following the party’s presidential primary, which was won convincingly by former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM) after the contest, Mr Agyapong said the experience has fundamentally changed his outlook on politics and relationships within the party.

“I will not allow myself to be used by anybody again. I need respect. I will be 64 years this year, and I will not allow anybody to treat me with disrespect,” he said.

Despite widespread apprehension from some quarters that he might consider an independent presidential bid, the outspoken former Assin Central MP ruled out that option, stressing his continued loyalty to the NPP.

“I am not going independent”, he said, explaining that when he entered the contest, he knew “it was 50–50; you can win or you can lose.” He said losing does not mean one must abandon their party.

However, Mr Agyapong admitted that the outcome of the primary had left him deeply disappointed, particularly with the conduct of some party members he said he had supported politically over the years.

He said with the experience he got from the election, he has learnt some hard lessons, including the fact that he no longer trust politicians.

According to him, while he accepts that party members are free to support any candidate of their choice, he was troubled by what he described as disparaging remarks made against him by individuals he had helped to rise within the party.

“I am not bitter because Vice President won”, he said, adding that he was bitter because some of the very people he supported to become Members of Parliament and ministers went beyond not voting for me to making derogatory statements about him.

Mr Agyapong clarified that he did not expect automatic loyalty or private assurances of votes, noting that political support was a matter of choice.

However, he maintained that personal attacks from beneficiaries of his support were difficult to forgive.

“If you did not vote for me, that is your choice. I have no problem with that. But the insults from people I helped — that is where my problem is,” he emphasised.

He also rejected suggestions that he should simply move on as though nothing had happened, insisting that honesty was more important than political convenience.

“I will not pretend. I will make it clear that I did not appreciate what was done to me,” he said.