By Daniel Bampoe
Fresh details have emerged about internal tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 general elections, with former Member of Parliament for Suhum, Frederick Opare Ansah, accusing flagbearer hopeful and Abetifi MP, Dr Bryan Acheampong, of actions that negatively affected the party’s fortunes in the Eastern Region.
Speaking in a recent interview on Asempa FM, Opare Ansah, the Campaign Manager for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, alleged that a long-standing disagreement between Bryan Acheampong and the Kwahumanhene Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, had spilled into party politics and disrupted key campaign activities in the region.
According to him, what began as a personal and traditional dispute later assumed political dimensions that the party struggled to manage during the electioneering period.
Opare Ansah claimed that Bryan Acheampong, at one point, threatened to boycott NPP campaign programmes in parts of the Eastern Region if party leaders paid a courtesy call on the Kwahumanhene at his Abene Palace.
He recalled that as the party prepared for campaign activities in Abetifi, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Jeff Konadu Addo, allegedly sent him a message warning that any attempt to visit the paramount chief would result in Bryan Acheampong withdrawing support from both Abetifi and other related programs.
“Bryan helped us in the Eastern Region, but he also caused harm at some point,” Opare Ansah stated.
“There was a time we were going to Abetifi, and the regional chairman (Jeff) sent me a message saying that if we made the mistake of going to greet the Kwahumanhene, Bryan would boycott the programmes,” he said, describing the situation as deeply troubling for party unity.
The Campaign Manager linked the tension directly to an unresolved conflict between Dr Acheampong and the Kwahumanhene, noting that the fallout had become common knowledge within political circles.
“If you remember, there was a fight between Bryan and the Kwahumanhene, and this entered our politics,” he added, underscoring how traditional authority disputes can complicate partisan activities in the political landscape.
The controversy has also been tied to wider allegations surrounding the chieftaincy crisis in Kwahu.
It has been alleged in political circles that Bryan Acheampong played a role in the attempted destoolment of the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II during the period of NPP governance.
Though these claims remain contested, the situation escalated into a major traditional dispute that eventually required judicial intervention.
Following a ruling by the appropriate judicial authority, the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II was restored to the Abene Palace with police support after the return of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power.
The political implications of the dispute became even more pronounced during the December 2024 general elections.
Frederick Opare Ansah and other party insiders have pointed to the fact that the NPP’s presidential candidate at the time, Dr Bawumia, was unable to pay a courtesy call on the Kwahumanhene at his palace in Abene.
Instead, Dr Bawumia was reportedly taken to Abetifi to greet Abetifihene, even though the paramount chief was present and exercising authority.
Within the NPP, the episode has since been cited as an example of how unresolved internal disagreements and strained relations with traditional authorities can undermine campaign cohesion and public perception.
The Eastern Region, which is traditionally a stronghold of the NPP, was particularly sensitive to such divisions, especially where chieftaincy matters intersected with partisan interests.
However, since last week, Opare Ansah made the allegations against the Presidential Aspirant, Bryan Acheampong, he hasn’t been able to respond.
