Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has appealed to party members to unite behind the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the 2028 general election.
In a statement issued on June 19, 2026, Dr Acheampong said the party’s focus should be on rebuilding and returning to power following its defeat in the 2024 elections.
“Our party suffered a painful defeat in 2024. The single most important task before us between now and 2028 is to rebuild, to reunite, and to return to power. Nothing! no grievance, no provocation, no personal quarrel can be allowed to stand above that mission. Every day we spend fighting one another is a day we hand freely to our opponents,” he stated.
The former presidential hopeful, who contested in the NPP’s January primary, said he understood the disappointment that follows a hard-fought internal election and therefore appreciated the concerns being expressed by former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
Dr Acheampong said he had followed with concern recent remarks by Mr Agyapong and his threat of action against the party and some individuals.
“Ken is a son of this party. A man whose energy, resources and loyalty over decades cannot be questioned, and whose voice carries weight across our grassroots. It is for that very reason that I urge him, respectfully but firmly, to lower the temperature and to lend his considerable influence to the work of healing rather than division,” he said.
Addressing the source of Mr Agyapong’s grievances, Dr Acheampong acknowledged that some individuals associated with both Dr Bawumia’s campaign and his own campaign had made comments that were inappropriate.
“During and after the contest, a few voices around the flagbearer and even my own campaign directed disrespect and sometimes insults at Hon. Agyapong that were unworthy of our tradition,” he admitted.
However, he stressed that there was no evidence linking such attacks to the NPP flagbearer.
“But we must also be fair and truthful. There is no evidence that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia commissioned, directed or endorsed those attacks. The individuals responsible carry their own long-standing grievances with Hon. Agyapong, quarrels that are personal to them and that they have pursued on their own account,” he stated.
According to Dr Acheampong, it would be unfair to hold Dr Bawumia or the entire party responsible for the actions of a few individuals.
He further called on all sides to embrace reconciliation and move beyond the tensions generated by the primary contest.
“And let us be honest with ourselves on all sides. In the heat of a contest, none of us speaks with perfect restraint, and harsh words passed in more than one direction – Hon. Agyapong’s own among them. I say this not to apportion blame, for I believe such words were spoken in the passion of the moment rather than from the heart.”
Dr Acheampong maintained that the focus should remain on strengthening the party and supporting its flagbearer rather than dwelling on personal disputes.
“Because here is the truth that must anchor us: this is about Dr. Bawumia and the NPP and not about the handful of individuals with their own scores to settle. Dr. Bawumia is now the candidate of all of us. He carries the mandate not only of those who voted for him, but of every member who voted for Ken, for me, and for the others who contested.”
He concluded by urging all factions within the party to close ranks ahead of the next election cycle.
“So, I appeal to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, to his supporters, and to mine: let us lay down the weapons of internal warfare. Action the verb UNITY. And let us close ranks behind our flagbearer so that in 2028 we restore the New Patriotic Party to the service of the people of Ghana.
“Unity is not weakness. Unity is how we win.”
