The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has once again become unpopular, but this time, from something that is not so new to him.
From Rock City Hotel’s intended purchase of a 60% stake in some SNNIT Hotels to making comments about the ruling New Patriotic Party government winning the highly-contested general elections in December by any means possible, the lawmaker for Abetifi constituency has on several occasions been muddied in controversial moments.
Bryan Acheampong has this time come under public scrutiny over his remarks made during the weekend while addressing a charged crowd at a campaign rally of the NPP at Nsawam in the Eastern Region, on August 10, 2024.
This is not the first time the Member of Parliament has made such controversial remarks.
GhanaWeb takes a look at all the times Bryan Acheampong has made such comments:
- NPP Unity Walk at Mpraeso 2023
During an NPP unity walk on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong claimed that the ruling party would not hand power over to their NDC opponents.
Assuring that the NPP will retain its power, he said the “NDC party will collapse.
“If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 elections, we will let them know we have the men”, he threatened, stressing; “We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.”
Bryan further noted; “It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC.
“It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost.”
His comments were regarded as a recipe for disaster against Ghana’s democracy, with many personalities calling for his retraction and arrest.
- NPP Unity Walk in Mpraeso 2024
At the 2024 edition of the unity walk organised by the NPP to mark the 2024 Kwahu Easter celebrations at Mpraeso, in the Kwahu South Municipality of the Eastern Region, on March 30, 2024, Bryan Acheampong reiterated his stance.
According to him, his party will not hand over power to the NDC because they will not win the elections.
“Last year, I stood here in Mpraeso and said that whether NDC likes it or not they will never win the 2024 polls. If you don’t win an election, will power be handed over to you? We will not hand it over to them today or tomorrow.
“As at that time I made the statements, Ghana was confronted with economic challenges. Food inflation was around 61%. Inflation was around 55%. The prices of cement and iron rods went up. Contractors said because of the IMF program, they were not going to work.
“Agenda 111 projects came to a standstill. The dollar prices went up as high as GH¢19.00. Even at the time, in 2020, when we were in difficulty, the NDC was thinking that because we were in difficulty, Ghanaians were going to vote against the NPP.
“But I told you that before we will vote in the next election, the economy will be restored and Ghanaians will see the good works of the NPP government,” he stated.
- Campaign Tour in Nsawam
Speaking at a campaign rally at Nsawam on Saturday, August 10, 2024, the lawmaker maintained that the NDC will never win the elections and that the NPP will secure victory by any means possible.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has pastors, imams, and traditionalists as members, will use every possible means to win the December 2024 elections.
“Before I end my speech, I want to reiterate that whether the NDC likes it or not, they will never win the 2024 elections. They won’t win. Go and check their records, they won’t win. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is there to win elections.
“So, whichever means we will use to win the 2024 elections, we will use it. We are a political party. We have pastors, imams, and traditionalists in the party. Ours is to win the elections. So, whichever means we will use to win the elections, we will use it.
“If you don’t understand, go and burn the sea. We will win the elections and continue the good works of the NPP. Nsawam, we thank you, God bless you,” he told the gathered crowd.
His comments have been widely condemned by Ghanaians.
ghanaweb.com