Kennedy Agyapong, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin North, has raised strong reservations about the latest list up for consideration in the party’s search for a running mate. Speaking to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Joy FM's flagship programme, the Super Morning Show, Mr Agyapong, a party stalwart, said the latest list rather gives an edge to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2008 elections. He questioned the consideration of Dr. Ibn Chambas, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, who, according to Mr Agyapong still remains an NDC bigwig. He was also not enthused about the choice of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Being the Chairman of the Central Regional NPP Campaign Team, he said, “If the party makes a mistake and selects Dr. Chambas or Dr. Bawumia, I will not waste my time to campaign” for the NPP. Mr Agyapong intimated that certain key members of the party are already unhappy about the current trend of affairs. He was also furious about the stress being put on the party’s presidential candidate to go for a compromise candidate, irrespective of his loyalty to the party. He accused the party’s big shots of piling unnecessary “pressure on Nana Akufo-Addo…confusing” the man in the process. The MP, who does not mince words, said the latest crop of names popping up “is putting me off”. He said, it is unfortunate persons like Alhaji Boniface Abubakar, Minister for Water Resources and Works and Housing, and Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who have stood on the party’s ticket as MPs before, are being criticized for not being true party members. He therefore questioned the loyalty of Dr. Chambas and Dr. Bawumia in the NPP. Kennedy Agyepong sets the criteria for the ideal vice presidential candidate. “We want a true party man with some level of loyalty. Choosing a compromise candidate will dampen the spirit and discourage party members who have sacrificed their lives for the party.” He said since the party is targeting the Muslims, and since his favourite – Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, MP of Yendi and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament - was not considered, he is okay with any true party member who is a Muslim He urged Nana Akufo-Addo to go for a Northerner “who has toiled and sacrificed” for NPP, like some of the ministers who served under President Kufuor’s administration. Mr. Agyepong advised the party against complacency, because the December elections would not be that easy. Already, he said, NPP foot soldiers are “disgruntled” with the party because they have personally not been “recognized”. The businessman however stated he is not pushing to be considered for the running mate slot but only giving expression to a candid opinion. Story by Isaac Essel & Fiifi Koomson