A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth organizers in the Ashanti Region have publicly declared their opposition to the presidential ambitions of the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, describing his candidacy as a threat to the unity and integrity of the party.
At a press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday, the group made up of 62 out of 94 incumbent constituency youth organizers and deputies, along with 34 of 46 former youth organizers accused Dr. Acheampong of conduct and utterances they say are inconsistent with the NPP’s democratic values and traditions.
The group’s statement cited three main concerns: conflict of interest, poor performance in the agricultural sector, and undemocratic comments made by the minister during the 2024 election period.
SSNIT Hotels Controversy
The youth organizers accused Dr. Acheampong of attempting to acquire majority shares in the SSNIT hotels while serving as a minister of state a move they described as a “serious breach of public trust.”
According to the statement, the attempted acquisition “angered millions of SSNIT contributors” and contributed to voter dissatisfaction that hurt the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
Performance in Agriculture
The group also criticized Dr. Acheampong’s tenure as Minister for Food and Agriculture, alleging mismanagement that led to delays in the distribution of fertilizers and farming inputs, particularly affecting farmers in the Northern, Savannah, Ashanti, and Bono regions.
They claimed the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiative suffered major setbacks under his leadership and accused the minister of “shifting blame” onto MPs and MMDCEs for the challenges that farmers faced.
Controversial Statement on Handover of Power
The youth organizers further referenced Dr. Acheampong’s 2024 campaign comment that the NPP would not hand over power, calling it “reckless, irresponsible, and dangerously undemocratic.”
They argued that the remark damaged the party’s image and reinforced opposition claims that the NPP was abandoning its democratic credentials.
Endorsement of Bawumia
The group instead declared their full support for Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, describing him as “the best person to lead the NPP into the 2028 general elections.”
“Dr. Bawumia exemplifies integrity, humility, competence, and inclusiveness,” the statement read. “He is a leader of peace, intellect, and charisma, and we believe he represents the best chance for the NPP to renew itself and lead Ghana forward.”
Of the 94 incumbent youth organizers in the region, 62 endorsed Dr. Bawumia, while 10 said they remain undecided. The remaining 34 former youth organizers also pledged their support for the former Vice President.
Call to Party Leadership
The group urged the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council of the NPP to “take their concerns seriously” and ensure that the party does not “reward controversy with elevation.”
“Our next leader must be clean, unifying, democratic, and empathetic,” the group stated. “Sadly, Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s actions, utterances, and priorities reflect the opposite.”
The group reaffirming their loyalty to the NPP, pledging to continue advocating for leadership that “embodies service, humility, and integrity.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
