NPP Primaries: Acheampong Campaign Shrugs Off Late Endorsements

NPP Primaries: The campaign team of New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful Bryan Acheampong has downplayed the impact of a recent endorsement of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by 118 former NPP parliamentary candidates, insisting the move will not influence voting outcomes in the party’s upcoming presidential primary.

Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Mpraeso Member of Parliament and campaign team member Davies Opoku Ansah said the endorsement does not alter the political dynamics on the ground and described it as a predictable move by individuals already aligned with Dr. Bawumia.

According to him, the Acheampong campaign remains firmly focused on grassroots engagement and delegate mobilisation ahead of the NPP’s January 31 presidential primary, expressing confidence in securing victory.

“If they were to return to their constituencies and conduct proper assessments, they would realise that the endorsement they did yesterday was absolutely unnecessary,” Mr. Opoku Ansah stated.

He argued that many of the signatories to the endorsement are already known campaign managers or core team members for Dr. Bawumia, and therefore their public declaration was unlikely to sway undecided delegates.

“Most of them are campaign managers and team members for Dr. Bawumia. If you go to the constituencies and engage properly, this last-minute attempt to sway minds will not be necessary,” he added.

Mr. Opoku Ansah further highlighted the extensive nationwide outreach undertaken by Dr. Acheampong, noting that the campaign has maintained a strong physical presence across the country ahead of NPP primaries.

“We are on the ground and we are working. By Saturday, Dr. Bryan Acheampong would have visited all 276 constituencies, after which we will begin our mop-up exercise. We are sure of victory,” he said.

The comments come in response to a press conference held on Thursday, January 8, where 118 former NPP parliamentary candidates from the 2024 general election publicly declared their support for Dr. Bawumia.

The group described the former Vice President as the most prepared and electable candidate to lead the party into the next general election, citing his experience in governance, economic management credentials, vision, and leadership qualities.

Leading the group, former Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, said the endorsement followed a careful assessment of all aspirants contesting the party’s flagbearership.

According to him, the group was convinced that Dr. Bawumia stood out among the contenders and possessed the requisite qualities to unify the party and lead it to victory in the 2028 elections.

With the NPP primaries drawing closer, endorsements and counter-statements are expected to intensify as aspirants seek to consolidate support among party delegates nationwide.

Party observers note that while high-profile endorsements may shape public perception, the final outcome will largely depend on grassroots mobilisation and delegate sentiment across constituencies.