Minister Bryan Acheampong’s Team Reports Successful Ashanti Tour, Dismisses Critics

Ghana’s NPP Campaign Tensions Rise as Bryan Acheampong Team Rebuts Allegations

The campaign team of Dr. Bryan Acheampong, a flagbearer hopeful for Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has forcefully rejected accusations from a group of NPP youth organizers in the Ashanti Region, describing their claims as baseless propaganda.

In a pointed response to allegations that characterized Acheampong’s regional tour messages as “lies” and accused him of anti-party behavior, campaign spokesperson Eric Amoako Twum defended his candidate’s engagements while questioning the credibility of the youth organizers who have publicly endorsed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“This looks most bizarre, if not ridiculous,” Twum told reporters, highlighting what he described as glaring irregularities in the youth organizers’ statement. Most notably, he pointed to the purported endorsement from an individual who had reportedly been deceased for “six or seven months prior,” complete with a signature and phone number.

“I saw it and I was astounded. I was like, wow, how is that possible?” Twum remarked, using this example to undermine the legitimacy of the entire statement against his candidate.

The spokesperson emphasized that the campaign would “treat it with contempt because it’s very clear that these are a desperate bunch who are interested in just doing propaganda.” He stressed that Acheampong’s team would not engage in mudslinging or personal attacks, choosing instead to focus on their core message and vision.

Contrary to the youth organizers’ claims, Twum portrayed Acheampong’s Ashanti Region tour as highly successful. He outlined the campaign’s commitment to grassroots empowerment and fostering unity and discipline within a party that has held power since 2016 but faces significant challenges ahead of Ghana’s 2024 general elections.

The NPP’s internal competition for flagbearer comes at a critical time for Ghana’s political landscape. After two terms of NPP governance under President Nana Akufo-Addo, the party is seeking a candidate who can maintain its hold on power despite economic difficulties that have included a debt restructuring program and IMF intervention.

Twum articulated Acheampong’s vision for the country, focusing on key policy areas including national security, infrastructure development, and food security, along with targeted initiatives for Ghana’s youth. The Ashanti Region, traditionally an NPP stronghold, remains crucial to the party’s electoral fortunes, making contests for support in the region particularly significant.

“In my experience, there has not been a single flagbearer aspirant who, in a space of three or four months, has been able to percolate and permeate the entire country, with everyone talking about it,” Twum asserted, describing Acheampong as “a force to be reckoned with” in the upcoming primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Acheampong, who currently serves as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, has been building his profile within the party. Political analysts note that his campaign’s swift rejection of the allegations demonstrates the increasingly competitive nature of the NPP’s internal contest, with various factions vying to position their preferred candidates.

The dispute highlights growing tensions within the NPP as it prepares for what promises to be a challenging election cycle. With Ghana’s economy still recovering from recent challenges, including high inflation and currency depreciation, party unity will be essential for electoral success.

As the primary campaign intensifies, observers expect further exchanges between the various camps, with the Ashanti Region likely to remain a key battleground for party support in both the primaries and the subsequent general election.