During the Easter holidays, claims circulated on social media alleging that Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in December, irrespective of the election outcome.
The Minister, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Constituency, faced public backlash and criticism from members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for purportedly making such remarks.
Fact-Check Ghana conducted its verification and presents its findings.
On Saturday, March 30, 2024, Bryan Acheampong addressed a rally organized by the NPP in Kwahu. Footage from the rally revealed that Bryan Acheampong made statements that appear to be similar to claims he made around this same time last year during NPP’s rally.
What did Bryan Acheampong say?
“A year ago I stood here [in Mpraeso] and said that whether NDC likes it or not they will never win the 2024 elections and 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 because they cannot win the elections.”
“When I made the statements Ghana was confronted with economic challenges. Food inflation was about 61%. Inflation was about 55%. The prices of cement and iron rods went up. Contractors said because of the IMF program, they were not going to work. We could not complete Agenda 111, the dollar was around GH¢ 19.00. Everything was high and we were going through hardship.”
He added “The NDC thought that it was during the crises that the country was going to the polls and Ghanaians would use their hardship to vote against the NPP.
“I told you that before we vote in the next election, the economy will be restored and Ghanaians will see the good works of the NPP government,” he said.
He further referenced the reduction in the inflation rate and other economic indicators as evidence that the government is working to restore the economy.
Reviewing Agric Minister’s statements at the rally, he indeed stated that the NPP will not hand over to the NDC. His assertion, however, was premised on the fact that the NDC will not win the elections in his view. There’s no evidence supporting the claim that Bryan Acheampong said the ruling party will not hand over to the NDC regardless of the outcome of the elections.
Therefore, the assertion that Bryan Acheampong stated the NPP would not transfer power to the NDC, regardless of the election outcome, is false.
