The New Patriotic Party (NPP) finds itself at a crossroads as internal divisions deepen ahead of the 2028 flagbearer contest. One of the party’s communicators in Sunyani East, Abubakari Yakubu, has publicly declined an invitation from flagbearer hopeful Bryan Acheampong, describing his recent comments against Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as “irresponsible” and damaging to party unity.
In a strongly worded letter, Yakubu said, “I must respectfully decline your invitation following your recent irresponsible remarks directed towards Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP.” He added that the party strategically chose Bawumia to break Ghana’s eight-year cycle of alternating governments, a task that demands cohesion, not division.
Yakubu took particular issue with Acheampong’s attempt to link Bawumia to the Bawku conflict. “Today, you have unfortunately joined the regrettable chorus of the misguided, who are peddling lies about Dr Bawumia as the one who fueled the conflict between the Kusasis and the Mamprugus,” he wrote.
He then posed a series of questions that go to the heart of Acheampong’s accusation: “If Dr Bawumia was the cause of the conflict, why did it escalate exponentially under the current NDC regime? Did the Bawku conflict influence our loss in Western, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Eastern, Western and Central Regions? How did we lose almost all the seats in the Greater Accra Region, and seven seats in the Ashanti Region?”
Yakubu admitted he once admired Acheampong, saying he had believed the Abetifi MP could have been a viable leader of the NPP after Bawumia’s tenure. But he now insists that tribal remarks disqualify him from serious consideration. “Although you may have achieved great success as a businessman, the presidency demands composure, caution, and a selfless dedication to the people you aspire to lead,” he warned.
The message is unmistakable. Leadership is not about profit or personal ambition. It is about unity, inclusivity, and service. As Yakubu put it, “Governance is not about profit-making; rather, it is about utilizing the available resources to safeguard the vulnerable and create opportunities for the populace.”
His decision to decline Acheampong’s invitation is therefore not about personal grievance, but principle. It reflects a growing sentiment among sections of the party that divisive rhetoric has no place in the NPP’s future. Delegates would do well to listen.
