The Business Executives for Ken (BEK), a group that sympathises with the vision and aspirations of former MP for the Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has condemned the reported stabbing incident of a student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) national ‘Thank You’ tour in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

The incident consequently led to the immediate withdrawal of Mr. Agyapong from the tour on safety and security grounds for him and other party members.

The NPP’s national ‘Thank You’ tour has been largely characterised by tensions, with notable party bigwigs like Mr. Agyapong, who contested as a flagbearer in the party’s primaries leading to the 2024 general elections; and the party’s Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe Abronye, popularly known as Abronye DC, seen involved in heated alterations in Berekum in the Bono Region during the tour.

Unfortunately, the situation got out of control when a group of young men suspected to be party vigilantes allegedly stabbed a KNUST student who is believed to be a staunch supporter of Mr. Agyapong.

In a statement, the group condemned the incident and called for tolerance among party leaders and members.

“We want to state unequivocally that, as a progressive group, we condemn this violent incident. The practice of democracy should be receptive of varying views and opinions without inflicting bodily pains on others who do not share in our ideologies. Such acts are archaic and backward, and they should not be countenanced in our political space”, they said.

The group also “respectfully” called on the Police Service to “swiftly” investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

“We further urge the police service to be on the alert and tighten security on such political tours in order to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents. No blood stain must be seen in the course of any political activity”, they intimated

Additionally, the group entreated the party leadership to offer a fair playing ground for all candidates seeking to contest for the flagbearship position, insisting that “the party should not project any candidate over another and should allow the grassroot and the delegates to freely elect the people’s leader who will be accepted by all.”

The group also commended Mr. Agyapong on his withdrawal from the tour, describing it as a “display of leadership and for prioritizing human life over his political ambitions.”

The group assured Mr. Agyapong of their continued “unflinching support”, emphasizing that they believe “he is the most competent leader who can bring about the needed economic transformation and discipline” for Ghana.