Former Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party not to be swayed by “fancy talkers” in the party’s internal presidential race. Speaking in a media interview, Kyei Mensah-Bonsu emphasized that actions—not words—are the true measure of leadership, invoking lyrics from reggae legend Jimmy Cliff to drive home his point.
“Action speaks louder than words. Don’t be deceived by fancy talkers,” he said, challenging the growing perception that one of the unnamed aspirants commands a superior connection to the party’s grassroots base.
While acknowledging that the said contender may have a history with the grassroots, the Suame MP was quick to defend his own credentials. “If I were disconnected from my grassroots at Suame, I couldn’t have, on seven consecutive occasions, been their representative,” he asserted, underlining his long-standing loyalty and sustained electoral success since 1992.
He also drew comparisons between himself and the unnamed contender, pointing out that while he retained his parliamentary seat for the NPP, the other “surrendered the seat to the NDC” after exiting Parliament.
“Yes, he contested six times in his constituency. But when he left, the seat was lost to the NDC. When I left, the seat remained with the NPP,” Mensah-Bonsu noted. He further urged the party not to “overhype” individual strengths or exaggerate grassroots ties in the ongoing succession discussions.
His comments are seen as part of intensifying undercurrents within the NPP as factions align ahead of the 2026 elections. While he did not mention any candidate by name, political observers believe the remarks were aimed at a specific aspirant positioning himself as a grassroots favorite.
