The Zongo Youth Movement, a Muslim advocacy group, has expressed strong displeasure over controversial comments allegedly made by Dr. Stephen Amoah, a known ally of Kennedy Agyapong, suggesting that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost the 2024 general elections due to the Islamic faith of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a sharp response, the group has cautioned the Assin Central MP and NPP flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, to steer his campaign clear of Zongo and Muslim communities unless a clear apology is rendered.
The Movement insists that silence from Agyapong’s camp could be interpreted as tacit approval of the divisive narrative.
“It is not unfair to associate these remarks with Kennedy Agyapong’s camp. After the comments were made, no one from his team came forward to disown or condemn them.
In fact, some members defended the claim on TV and radio using misleading data,” said Abdullai Ali, Public Relations Officer of the Zongo Youth Movement, in an interview with Citi News.
Ali stressed that such rhetoric is not only inflammatory but also undermines the religious harmony that Ghana prides itself on.
“If Kennedy Agyapong had issued a statement distancing himself from the remarks, we would have focused only on Dr. Amoah. But the silence from his camp speaks volumes,” he added.
Dr. Amoah, popularly known as “Sticka”, is reported to have implied that Bawumia’s religion played a role in the NPP’s electoral loss — a sentiment that has sparked outrage in various quarters, especially among Muslim youth and leaders who see it as an attempt to stigmatize their faith for political gain.
The Zongo Youth Movement is demanding an unqualified apology, not only to the Muslim community but to all Ghanaians who believe in a united, inclusive society. They warn that if this matter is not addressed with urgency and sincerity, it could further alienate the NPP from Zongo communities ahead of the next general elections.
They also urged political actors to be measured in their utterances and ensure that their campaigns reflect the values of tolerance, inclusiveness, and national cohesion.
