A fierce internal conflict within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region has taken a new twist, with 15 incumbent legislators aiming at their colleague, Dr Bryan Acheampong, over what they term "false claims" aimed at discrediting their united endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the party's flagbearer contest.

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and MP for Abetifi, and former Agriculture Minister Dr Bryan Acheampong, have their eyes on the NPP flagbearer position, with both intensifying their campaigns ahead of the 2026 polls to select a leader.

The MPs, who have openly declared "unflinching support" for Dr. Bawumia, issued a press statement today, September 30, 2025, categorically refuting allegations made by Dr Acheampong and his campaign team following their public declaration for the 2024 NPP presidential candidate.

The MPs suggested Dr Acheampong’s actions follow "earlier threats" to undermine their standing in their constituencies if they refused to back his campaign.

The confrontation centres on Dr Acheampong’s assertion that some of the endorsing MPs privately backtracked on their declaration after the initial press conference to throw support for Dr Bawumia.

The 15 MPs flatly denied this, challenging their colleague to provide immediate public proof.

“There is absolutely no truth in Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s assertion that some of us privately called him after our press conference to downplay our declaration,” the statement declared.

The group issued a strong mandate: "We challenge him, in the spirit of truth and accountability, to publicly name the MPs he alleges contacted him. Until he does so, his claim remains nothing but a fabrication intended to discredit our genuine and resolute support for Dr. Bawumia."

Similarly, the lawmakers challenged Dr Acheampong to produce concrete proof of alleged text message exchanges with Dr. Bawumia regarding the incident, stating their checks confirm no such communication took place.

The failure to do so, they warned, would expose his claim as a "deliberate falsehood designed to hoodwink delegates."

The group of MPs accused Dr Acheampong of a calculated attempt to "sow seeds of division" between constituency executives and polling station members across the region by misrepresenting the source and purpose of 2024 general election campaign funds.

Dr Acheampong is alleged to have claimed that he personally disbursed monies meant for polling station executives and suggested that if these funds were not received, the blame should be directed at constituency executives and MPs.

The MPs were quick to set the record straight with extensive details and facts regarding the campaign financing:

• Source of Funds: Campaign funds were "not come from the personal resources of Hon. Bryan Acheampong," but were rather "contributions from party financiers and businessmen who supported the presidential campaign of Dr. Bawumia."
• Acheampong's Role: His function was merely to "facilitated their disbursement" in his capacity as the Regional Campaign Coordinator.
• Intended Use: The funds had "specific purposes and instructions" and were "not meant to be distributed to polling station executives."

The MPs criticized this narrative as a "calculated attempt to sow division among the rank and file of the party and weaken it with falsehoods," designed to falsely portray party officials as "unaccountable."

Furthermore, the press release highlighted issues with the actual disbursement process, stating that "what eventually reached MPs was less than what had originally been agreed upon."

This forced many MPs to "supplement from their own resources to ensure the success of the campaign."

To end the mounting confusion and protect the integrity of the campaign, the 15 MPs issued a call for transparency from the Bawumia 2024 campaign structure.

"We are also calling on the Central Campaign Team of Dr. Bawumia’s 2024 presidential bid, specifically the Campaign Manager and the Finance Committee Chairman to publicly clarify the exact amounts of money that were given to Hon. Bryan Acheampong for operations in the Eastern Region, and to explain how those funds were intended to be utilized," the statement read, stressing that transparency is "necessary to put an end to the distortions."

In conclusion, the group, which includes influential figures such as Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Frank Annoh Dompreh, remained firm, insisting, "We, the undersigned Eastern Regional MPs, remain firm, united, and unwavering in our support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. We consider Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s allegations as baseless, divisive, and calculated to serve his personal agenda."

They further demanded a retraction by Dr Acheampong of his claims immediately.

The MPs are:

Nana Ampaw Kwame Addo Frempong, Kingsley Agyemang, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Sammi Awuku, Ida Adjoa Asiedu, Kwame Appiah Kodua, Laurette Korkor Asante, Duke Ofori-Atta, Alexander Agyare, Michael Okyere Baafi, Frank Annoh Dompreh, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, and Charles Asuako Owiredu.

Below is the full statement: