The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer contest is increasingly being overshadowed by accusations of tribal and religious rhetoric, with presidential hopeful Dr. Bryan Acheampong denying suggestions that he blamed former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the protracted Mamprusi-Kusasi conflict in northern Ghana.
A statement issued by the Abetifi MP’s campaign on Sunday, August 24, dismissed circulating social media videos as “mischievously pieced together and venomously captioned,” insisting that Dr. Acheampong’s remarks had been deliberately taken out of context.
According to the statement, Acheampong had, in fact, described Dr. Bawumia as a “victim of circumstances, not a cause of division,” while stressing the need for the NPP to adopt smarter strategies in regions historically shaped by ethnic and political rivalries.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of strong comments from Dr. Bawumia, who the day before condemned what he called “tribal and religious propaganda” targeted at him ahead of the party’s 2026 presidential primaries.
“An aspirant has said delegates should not vote for me because I am a Mamprusi man and that I will lose votes in the Kusasi and other areas. This is very unfortunate and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the situation,” the former Vice President told party supporters.
Though he stopped short of naming Dr. Acheampong, political observers say the remarks were a direct response to recent commentary by the Abetifi legislator, who had contrasted the NPP’s electoral fortunes under leaders such as John Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo with current challenges in northern constituencies.
The Acheampong campaign, however, framed its candidate’s message as one of unity and pragmatism. “Dr. Acheampong’s vision is to position the NPP for decisive victory in 2028 and to govern with the strength and clarity needed to resolve the deep-rooted issues holding communities and the nation back,” the statement read.
Analysts say the episode reflects a growing tension within the NPP over identity politics, with the party still reeling from its defeat in the 2024 general elections. Both Acheampong and Bawumia have repeatedly called for unity, but the back-and-forth underscores how sensitive ethnic and regional issues remain in Ghanaian politics.
The Acheampong team has urged delegates to ignore “serial misrepresentations” and listen to his full, unedited remarks, while Bawumia continues to warn that dividing the party along tribal lines risks alienating voters nationwide.
As the 2026 primaries draw closer, the NPP faces the dual challenge of choosing a flagbearer and managing an internal contest that threatens to reopen old wounds of ethnic suspicion—fault lines that could undermine its chances in the 2028 general elections if left unresolved.
