Why not Bryan? - Barima Sarpong Kumankuma writes
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), without any attempt to sweep our internal challenges under the carpet, has been and still is a pillar of Ghana’s democracy and a restorer of “Development in Freedom”.
Our political tradition in the history of our dear nation, Ghana, has seen struggles, shown courage, and shed blood towards achieving a society where leaders are elected rather than imposed, and where development comes with freedom and not at the expense of the people’s freedom.
In the 4th Republic, the New Patriotic Party has successfully elected four (4) presidential candidates through about seven (7) highly competitive presidential primaries. In a space of about 34 years, we have witnessed the election of Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, President John Agyekum Kufour, President Nana Akufo-Addo, and H.E Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.
Come the 31st day of January, in the year 2026, as the largest political party in the history of Ghana, once more, a constitutional duty hangs on our neck. NPP, a decision is upon us. A decision that in no uncertain terms must necessarily revive hope in party people and restore trust with the Ghanaian people.
The enormity of our responsibility as NPP delegates in the “31st Decision” cannot be precisely photographed by any number of
words.
Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Hon. Dr. Yaw Adutwum, and Engr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong are the “noble 5” who have presented themselves to be elected as the NPP’s flag bearer for the 2028 general elections.
These are party heroes who indeed qualify to lead the NPP as presidential candidate.
These presidential aspirants are gentlemen who come to the table with various and varying content in terms of knowledge, experience, and
exposure. It is also true that the “noble 5” have their own peculiar strengths as well as weaknesses which will matter if any of them is
presented as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 elections.
In all fairness, each one of the five can serve our dear country as president, however, history gives a clear verdict that in a group of people who qualify as president, circumstances can offer one of them the best chance to win an election. This is where NPP finds itself today. All five can govern as president, but we must win political power first. The big question: who then can best unite the NPP and win the trust of the Ghanaian people?
And so while I am deeply convinced that the five gentlemen are all fit for the position of a president, I have no doubt in my mind that one of them is the most fit for the purposes of uniting the rank and file of the NPP and winning the 2028 GENERAL ELECTION. And that one person is Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
In view of the current state of the New Patriotic Party, I will put emphasis on party unity as the first and best criterion to choose who leads us come January 31, 2026. In the year 2000, unity offered us victory in the general election with the candidature of J.A Kufour. In the 2008 general election, glaring lack of unity was responsible for that unforgettable defeat, however, when we came together in unity, the 2016 election became a different story with same presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The failure to unite the NPP towards the 2024 general election gave us our worst ever electoral performance in the party’s recent history.
What is most frightening is the fact that the very forces which failed to foster unity are still present and most active this time around. Going into the 2028 election, the biggest threat to the NPP is not NDC, but the NPP itself.
The biggest hindrance to our electoral success is the unchecked bitterness out the political rivalry between the camp of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and that of H.E Dr. Bawumia.
The immeasurable levels of antagonism and verbal abuse of which both sides are guilty, has poisoned the morale of our grassroots and weakened our party structures contributing hugely to the indiscipline dwelling in our party today.
I am therefore in deepest agreement with most of our party people across the country as well as the well-meaning Ghanaians who recently on day-to day basis advise the NPP delegates to vote for a presidential candidate outside the two “fighting camps” who can truly unite all the factions.
Now is the time to look beyond both Hon Ken and H.E Dr Bawumia, and I humbly ask, why not Bryan?
The constitution of the New Patriotic Party states clearly that the party exists to win political power to develop Ghana in freedom. I therefore ask again, and humbly so, if the “31st Decision” is about winning the 2028 election, then why not Bryan?
There is absolutely no doubt about the need for the NPP to restore discipline, rebrand itself, and rewin the trust of the Ghanaian electorate.
This is non-negotiable, and I ask once more, why not Bryan?
Why not Bryan, if he is the hope of the aged and the embodiment of the aspirations of the young voter? Why not Bryan?
Why not Bryan, if he is the NPP’s surest and strongest bridge between Ken and Bawumia, and just within 4 months he has been able to energize the NPP base barely a year after a painful electoral defeat? Why not Bryan?
Why not Bryan, at this crucial time that the business community, the academia, the middle class and floating voters are expressing their
confidence in him as a young impactful political and business leader? Why not Bryan?
Dear Delegates, I humbly plead with you to be ears to the Ghanaian people and be faithful to the constitution of the NPP which sums up our common objective of winning election 2028 for the betterment of Ghana. As you step into the booth on 31st January 2026, remember that you are standing in for the ordinary people in your polling stations, electoral areas, and constituencies. Let us respond positively to the most important question of our time. WHY NOT BRYAN?
The name remains; Barima Sarpong Kumankuma, Proud Product of Dawu L/A Asante Jamasi.
