Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has appealed for calm and unity within the party
This follows recent comments by former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who warned that he could make certain disclosures next year if some party members continued to provoke him.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 19, Dr Acheampong said the NPP’s priority ahead of the 2028 general elections should be rebuilding and reuniting after its defeat in the 2024 polls.
“Our party suffered a painful defeat in 2024. The single most important task before us between now and 2028 is to rebuild, to reunite, and to return to power,” he said, adding that “nothing — no grievance, no provocation, no personal quarrel — can be allowed to stand above that mission.”
Dr Acheampong, who contested the party’s January 2026 presidential primary alongside Mr Agyapong, said he understood the disappointment and emotions associated with losing an internal contest and urged the former lawmaker to use his influence to promote healing within the party.
He described Mr Agyapong as “a son of this party” whose contribution and standing among the grassroots could not be overlooked.
“It is for that very reason that I urge him, respectfully but firmly, to lower the temperature and to lend his considerable influence to the work of healing rather than division,” the former Food and Agriculture Minister stated.
Dr Acheampong acknowledged that some individuals associated with both Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign and his own campaign had made disparaging remarks about Mr Agyapong during and after the primary. However, he argued that such actions should not be attributed to the party’s flagbearer.
“But we must also be fair and truthful. There is no evidence that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia commissioned, directed or endorsed those attacks,” he said.
According to him, the individuals involved were pursuing personal grievances and their conduct should not be used to indict either Dr Bawumia or the party as a whole.
He further called for reconciliation among all factions, noting that exchanges during the contest had not been one-sided.
“And let us be honest with ourselves on all sides. In the heat of a contest, none of us speaks with perfect restraint, and harsh words passed in more than one direction — Hon. Agyapong’s own among them,” he said.
Dr Acheampong urged party members to rally behind Dr Bawumia and focus on preparations for the 2028 elections, arguing that internal disputes should not overshadow the broader objective of returning the NPP to power.
“Unity is not weakness. Unity is how we win,” he added.
