By Daniel Bampoe
Former Minister for Food and Agriculture and failed New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has made a passionate appeal for unity within the party, urging members to put aside personal grievances and rally behind the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the 2028 general elections.
In a statement released on June 19, 2026, the Abetifi Member of Parliament reflected on the aftermath of the NPP’s fiercely contested presidential primary held in January, stressing that the party’s overriding responsibility is to rebuild its strength and regain power after its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Acheampong, who contested the presidential primary alongside former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and other aspirants, acknowledged the emotional toll that follows political contests.
He noted that having personally experienced defeat in the race, he fully understood the disappointment and frustrations that many supporters and candidates continue to feel.
His intervention comes at a time when tensions within sections of the NPP have resurfaced following recent remarks by Kennedy Agyapong, who has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of some individuals within the party and threatened further action against certain persons.
The developments have sparked widespread debate among party faithful, with many senior members calling for calm and reconciliation.
Addressing the issue directly, Dr. Acheampong described Kennedy Agyapong as a loyal and dedicated member whose decades of service, financial contributions, and grassroots influence within the NPP cannot be overlooked.
He said the outspoken businessman remains an important pillar of the party and appealed to him to use his influence to promote healing rather than deepen divisions.
According to Dr. Acheampong, while the concerns raised by Kennedy Agyapong are legitimate and stem from genuine grievances, the party must carefully distinguish between the actions of individual supporters and the conduct of the party leadership.
He admitted that during and after the primary contest, some supporters associated with various campaigns, including his own, made comments and engaged in conduct that were disrespectful toward some aspirants.
He acknowledged that many party members had hoped such actions would have been addressed swiftly by party elders and leaders.
However, he emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia either encouraged, directed, or endorsed those attacks.
Dr. Acheampong argued that some of the individuals responsible for the attacks have long-standing personal disagreements with Kennedy Agyapong and acted independently.
For that reason, he cautioned against attributing their conduct to Dr. Bawumia or using those incidents as grounds to reject the party’s flagbearer.
The former Agriculture Minister also called for honesty and self-reflection across all camps within the NPP. He noted that political contests often generate heated exchanges and that strong words were exchanged from multiple sides during the primary campaign.
In his view, reconciliation can only be achieved if all parties are willing to forgive and move forward without insisting that the other side make the first move.
Dr. Acheampong stressed that the NPP’s future cannot be held hostage by personal disagreements when the larger objective is to regain the confidence of Ghanaians and return to government in 2028.
He reminded party members that the NPP suffered a painful electoral setback in 2024 and cannot afford to spend valuable time fighting internal battles while its political opponents consolidate their position.
He further noted that Dr. Bawumia, having won the party’s presidential primary, now carries the mandate of the entire NPP, including supporters of all the candidates who participated in the contest. As such, he said every member has a responsibility to support the flagbearer irrespective of previous affiliations during the primary season.
The statement forms part of a broader reconciliation drive currently underway within the NPP. Since his election as flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia has embarked on a series of consultations and unity-building engagements involving former presidential aspirants, party elders, former ministers, Members of Parliament, former government appointees, and grassroots activists.
Several prominent party figures, including former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani, former National Chairman Paul Afoko, former Attorney-General Joe Ghartey, former presidential aspirant Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Minority MPs led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and numerous former MPs and ministers, have all visited Dr. Bawumia in recent months to pledge support and discuss the future of the party.
The NPP flagbearer has consistently maintained that unity, forgiveness, and organizational renewal are critical if the party hopes to regain power in 2028.
During the party’s recent National Thanksgiving Service, he called on members to forgive one another, rebuild trust, and focus on the common goal of winning back the confidence of Ghanaians.
Echoing that message, Dr. Acheampong concluded his appeal with a call for all factions within the party to abandon internal warfare and embrace reconciliation. He urged supporters of Kennedy Agyapong, his own supporters, and all party faithful to unite behind Dr. Bawumia and work collectively toward victory in the next general election.
“Unity is not weakness. Unity is how we win,” Dr. Acheampong declared, as the NPP intensifies efforts to heal internal wounds and position itself for a strong comeback in 2028.
