New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has come under fire after remarks widely condemned as tribalistic during a meeting with defeated 2024 parliamentary candidates.
The Abetifi MP and former Minister of Food and Agriculture hosted the candidates at his Rock City Hotel in Mpraeso, but what began as a strategy session ended in unease, with several attendees describing his comments as divisive and dangerous for the party’s unity.
Dr. Acheampong urged delegates to reject former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s 2028 flagbearer, arguing that his Mamprusi roots would make it difficult for the NPP to win votes in the Upper East Region due to the longstanding Mamprusi–Kusasi conflict.
“Because the conflict is between these two people and we brought one of them as our candidate, it made us lose seats in the 2024 election. We cannot wait for this situation to be resolved and stay in opposition because the suspicion will not go away,” Dr. Bryan Acheampong told the gathering.
His comments, however, drew murmurs of disapproval from several participants. Zak Rahman, the party’s 2024 parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East, openly rejected the tribal framing.
He countered that the NPP’s electoral struggles went far beyond the Upper East, pointing to the loss of about 50 parliamentary seats nationwide, including in traditional strongholds.
Rahman explained that even in Accra constituencies such as 37, Kanda, and Asylum Down, typically NPP strongholds, support declined due to voter apathy. “It would be wrong to blame Dr. Bawumia for the NPP’s presidential and parliamentary defeats due to his tribe,” he argued, calling instead for the party to “unite and come together” for victory.
Other attendees also expressed disappointment. One said, “It is quite unfortunate, and I was very disturbed and disappointed by such tribal and divisive comments. Many of my colleagues seated close to me also expressed disapproval.”
“I have a good relationship with Bryan Acheampong, but I know what is good for the party and which candidate can unite us for the NPP and give us victory. I am very disappointed in Bryan for such unfounded tribal comments, which only divide and weaken the NPP.”
A candidate from the Western Region questioned the logic of Acheampong’s argument: “Some of our candidates ought to treat us with respect when they invite us. We went into an election and lost about 50 parliamentary seats across the country, not only in the Upper East. If you go back to 2020, we lost close to 90 seats, and you invite us and start blaming Bawumia.”
“How many seats did we have in Upper East, and how many did we lose? There is no logic in Bryan’s comments, and I believe it is only influenced by tribal hatred, which is shocking coming from someone who wants to lead the party.”
Another aspirant from the Ashanti Region lamented the turn the flagbearership race is taking.
“Our party is already suffering from tribal and religious labelling, and I would have wished that leaders seeking to lead us would have rather shown us some substance in their messaging. Inviting us all the way here to tell us we should not vote for a particular candidate because he belongs to this or that tribe is the lowest anybody can go. I am upset and so are many of my colleagues here.”
The backlash has since spilled onto social media, where party supporters have condemned Dr. Acheampong for what they describe as reckless and divisive rhetoric.
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