By Daniel Bampoe
A new political current is taking shape within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as over 300 grassroots party members in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency of the Central Region — the home turf of former flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong — have publicly endorsed Dr. Bryan Acheampong as the party’s ideal presidential candidate for the 2028 general elections.
This growing wave of support, which comes from polling station executives and former local leaders, signals a potential shift in the internal power dynamics of the NPP, especially in a region previously aligned with Kennedy Agyapong.
The development also underscores the increasing influence of Dr. Acheampong, the former Minister for Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, in the party’s post-2024 reorganization efforts.
The endorsement was formally announced at a press conference held in Ajumako over the weekend by the newly inaugurated Ajumako Chapter of the United Grassroots Club for Bryan Acheampong.
The group appealed to NPP delegates across Ghana to set aside internal factionalism and rally around Acheampong as a consensus candidate capable of unifying the fractured party.
NPP at Crossroads
Addressing the press, chapter leader Patrick Arthur warned that the NPP faces an existential threat if internal divisions persist.
“The party is at crossroads. The decision of over 40,000 polling station executives and over 6,000 electoral area coordinators must be respected,” he said.
“We need a unifier — someone who can bridge the divides, bring calm to our ranks, and lead us to victory. That person is Dr. Bryan Acheampong.”
Patrick Arthur’s message appeared aimed at resolving the lingering factional battle between supporters of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and outspoken former MP Kennedy Agyapong.
The two were the leading contenders in the party’s bitterly contested 2023 flagbearership race — a rivalry that left the party sharply divided, with religious, regional, and ideological lines drawn between supporters.
Citing Scripture and Politics
In an attempt to illustrate the party’s fragile unity, Partick Arthur referenced 1 Corinthians 3:4, noting how early Christians were divided by personal loyalty to Paul and Apollos — much like the current NPP infighting.
“Today, we see the same spirit of division within our great party. We must not allow it to fester,” he urged.
The group further stated that while Bawumia and Agyapong remain respected figures in the party, their continued rivalry risks alienating crucial voting blocs, especially Christian and Muslim communities that have informally aligned along religious lines behind both leaders.
Bryan Acheampong: The “Middle Ground”?
The endorsement in Kennedy Agyapong’s political stronghold is significant. While Kennedy Agyapong has not officially declared his political intentions for 2028, some of his supporters see Bryan Acheampong as a neutral figure capable of attracting support from both Agyapong and Bawumia loyalists — and possibly forging a new path forward for the party.
The United Grassroots Club warned that any attempt to reimpose the two earlier frontrunners as flagbearer options could reignite old wounds.
“The party cannot afford another defeat like 2024. We must learn from our mistakes. The only way forward is through unity — and Bryan Acheampong represents that path,” the group concluded.
Party Unity Ahead of 2028
Although the NPP is yet to officially open nominations for the 2028 presidential primaries, the grassroots agitation and early mobilization efforts suggest a high-stakes contest is already brewing beneath the surface.
For now, Bryan Acheampong continues to position himself as a bridge-builder in the party — one who can realign the party’s base, revitalize its grassroots, and avoid the pitfalls of personality-driven divisions that cost the NPP the 2024 general election.
Whether his rising popularity can transform into national consensus within the NPP remains to be seen.
However, with Kennedy Agyapong’s home region now partially shifting allegiance, the race to lead the NPP into the next electoral cycle is taking on a new, unexpected momentum.
