Bryan Acheampong laments lack of respect for authority in NPP

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Bryan Acheampong, has warned that growing indiscipline and public infighting within the NPP could undermine the party’s chances of winning future elections.

The former Minister of Food and Agriculture raised the concern during a radio engagement as part of his nationwide tour in the New Patriotic Party’s ongoing flagbearer race, arguing that internal attacks and open defiance of party structures are weakening collective discipline.

“A lot of people in our party are just talking, insulting and fighting regional and constituency executives on radio, TV and social media,” Mr Acheampong said. “There’s no respect for authority; lines are being crossed back and forth.”

He questioned whether a party can successfully contest an election under such conditions, insisting that unchecked indiscipline erodes focus and credibility.

“Nowhere in the world can you win an election with this level of indiscipline,” he said, pointing to his own campaign as an example of restraint. “You wouldn’t find anybody in my campaign speaking against anybody or insulting anybody. No, you dare not.”

Mr Acheampong, one of five aspirants seeking to lead the NPP into the next general election, promised firm internal reforms if he emerges victorious in the party’s early primary scheduled for next month. He said restoring discipline would be his first priority.

“January 31, when I win, on February 1 I’ll restore discipline,” he declared. “To start with, I will ensure that everybody downs their tools. Drop your mic, raise your fingers from the screen, and let’s have a conversation.”

According to him, that initial conversation would focus on resetting internal communication and agreeing on how party actors engage each other and the broader public.

“Let’s agree on how we’re going to communicate to each other and how we’re going to communicate to the external publics going forward,” he added.

The NPP flagbearer contest has attracted intense attention, with former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and former Assin Central MP and businessman Kennedy Agyapong widely regarded as front-runners in the race.

Former Education Minister, Dr Yaw Adutwum and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong are also contesting, though party insiders say they are trailing in early internal assessments.

Mr Acheampong’s remarks come against a backdrop of heightened internal debate, with senior party figures increasingly urging restraint and unity ahead of the primary. He argued that discipline, respect for hierarchy and message control are not optional.

“If we don’t fix how we talk to each other,” he said, “we cannot expect the Ghanaian voter to take us seriously.”