By Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer race has taken a dramatic turn as Abetifi MP and former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has openly declared himself the single biggest financier in the party’s history—claiming he bankrolled not only Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2023 presidential primary bid but also contributed more to the NPP’s 2024 campaign than he did for President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016.
Speaking to NPP delegates at his Kwahu Rock City Hotel in the Eastern Region, Bryan Acheampong accused Dr. Bawumia, now a frontrunner in the ongoing flagbearership contest, of failing to commit financially during the 2023 primaries.
He alleged that he personally funded the entire campaign in the region, disbursing $1,500 to each super delegates to secure Bawumia’s victory.
“In 2023, Dr. Bawumia did not bring a penny into the Eastern Region. I paid every single penny for him to become flagbearer of this party,” Acheampong told delegates, stressing that he alone carried the financial burden of the campaign.
From Akufo-Addo To Bawumia: Acheampong’s Financing Trail
Acheampong went further, boasting that his financial involvement in the 2024 general elections surpassed what he invested to ensure Akufo-Addo’s victory in 2016.
He claimed that during the last election cycle, he distributed massive sums, including GH¢100,000 monthly to 27 parliamentary candidates in the Eastern Region and GH¢2 million each to 26,000 polling station executives.
“I have spent more on this party than any individual since its formation in 1992. If anyone disputes this, let them mention one name,” Bryan Acheampong charged, daring critics within the party to challenge his record.
His remarks have stirred heated debates within the NPP, where financing has long been a critical but sensitive factor in internal contests.
Traditionally, the party has relied on wealthy backers—both locally and in the diaspora—who have pumped millions into campaigns. Party stalwarts such as Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Kwame Pianim, and various private sector moguls have historically shouldered the financial weight during tough opposition years.
Acheampong’s declaration, however, suggests that he sees himself as having eclipsed them all.
Rising Tensions Ahead of Primaries
Bryan Acheampong’s revelations come at a time when the NPP is preparing for one of its most fiercely contested flagbearer elections in January 2026.
Current polls place Dr. Bawumia far ahead with 52% delegate support, followed by Kennedy Agyapong with 17%, while Acheampong lags with just 3%, according to Global Info Analytics.
For critics, Acheampong’s chest-thumping is an attempt to remind delegates of his financial influence, especially at a time when campaign resources could make the difference in swaying undecided party executives.
For supporters, however, his claim underscores his loyalty and commitment to ensuring NPP victories over the years.
The Road to 2026
The January primaries will test whether Acheampong’s financial muscle can translate into political capital.
He faces stiff competition not only from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong but also from other aspirants such as former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Kwabena Agyapong, and Boakye Agyarko.
For now, Acheampong is projecting himself as more than just another contender.
He is positioning himself as the indispensable banker of the NPP, the man whose money—by his own account—kept the party afloat and propelled its leaders to power.
Whether this message resonates with delegates or backfires as boastful excess remains to be seen.
But what is clear is that Bryan Acheampong has ignited a conversation within the NPP about money, loyalty, and the true cost of winning power.
