Drought Relief Scandal: Hamza Amadu accuses Bryan Acheampong of undermining NPP victory

Former Bawku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hamza Amadu has accused Dr. Bryan Acheampong of deliberate mismanagement and reckless political actions that contributed significantly to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 elections.

In a detailed Facebook post dated June 22, 2025, Mr. Amadu recounted a meeting with former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who served under President Nana Akufo-Addo at Rock City hotel. While acknowledging Dr. Acheampong’s presidential ambitions and noting that he delivered his presentation calmly and without assigning blame to anyone in the party, Hamza launched a scathing critique of his handling of critical matters during the 2024 campaign.

Central to his allegations was the delayed delivery of drought relief items meant for over 800,000 farmers across northern Ghana. According to Hamza, these critical maize and rice supplies, negotiated by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Agriculture Minister Hon. Owusu Afriyie with the World Bank, were intentionally or negligently withheld by Dr. Acheampong. “Less than 5% of the 57 MMDAs in the five northern regions received aid before the elections. In Bawku, no items were delivered until after my dismissal in January 2025,” Hamza said, insisting the delay weakened Dr. Bawumia’s campaign and influenced voter sentiment.

He further criticized Dr. Acheampong for controversial actions that angered Ghanaians, including his attempt to purchase Labadi Beach Hotel and remarks about refusing to hand over power. Hamza also singled out his handling of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election as setting a dangerous precedent, giving the opposition justification to unleash violence in subsequent polls. He condemned Dr. Acheampong’s attacks on Dr. Bawumia regarding the Bawku conflict, describing them as “reckless, dangerous, and a slippery road.”

Stressing that the NPP’s 2024 defeat was a collective failure, Hamza warned against blaming a single individual. He cited historical examples, including Alan Kyeremanteng’s repeated opposition against former President Nana Akufo-Addo, noting that internal disagreements did not prevent victory in past elections.

Concluding his post, Hamza called for unity and strategic discipline ahead of 2028: “A battalion of soldiers knows one fact: either we win or lose. To win, we need unity, not division. United we stand, divided we fall. DMB is coming.”