In a whirlwind two-month stretch, Dr. Bryan Acheampong has jolted the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race. From a modest 12.7% support base in April, Acheampong now commands 28.1%, charting an eye-catching 15.4-point leap that catapaults him firmly into the top tier of contenders. Once seen as a long shot in a field dominated by the familiar figures of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, Bryan is now quickly reshaping the dynamics of the race.
Both front-runners are losing ground. Bawumia’s support has dipped by 9.2 points, while Kennedy Agyapong is down by 7.8. The losses may reflect growing dissatisfaction among delegates, shifting loyalty dynamics, or simply the unpredictability that comes when the party base is no longer content with business as usual. What is clear is that Bryan is not just catching up, he is making significant strides.
The survey, conducted by the Future Governance Analytics Project (FGAP), comes at a pivotal moment as the party’s internal structures begin to mobilize ahead of the 2026 primaries. While other aspirants – including Kwabena Agyapong, Boakye Agyarko, and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum – continue to poll below the 3% mark, Bryan’s rise has shifted conversations from “whether he can compete” to “whether he could win.”
Observers and insiders alike point to a combination of strategy, timing, and message discipline. Acheampong has pivoted from conventional top-down politicking to a more deliberate grassroots engagement strategy, meeting quietly but consistently with delegates, regional influencers, and rank-and-file party members.
His narrative is one of competence and clarity, grounded in his background as a former Cabinet Minister, a successful entrepreneur, and the MP for Abetifi. He’s positioning himself as the “results man”, someone who understands the machinery of government, the language of business, and the practical frustrations of everyday Ghanaians.
His technocratic tone and focus on unity and renewal set him apart from the more polarizing figures in the race. Unlike Kennedy Agyapong, who often leans on populist energy, or Bawumia, whose message is now burdened by incumbency, Bryan projects the image of a focused operator who can steady the ship and chart a new course.
Acheampong’s rise hasn’t happened in isolation. Strategic endorsements are playing a crucial role in amplifying his credibility. Notably, Davis Ansah Opoku (MP for Mpraeso) and former Asante Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi have thrown their weight behind him, an indication that his campaign is gaining traction among both the party’s young guard and seasoned operatives.
He’s also benefitting from the perception of momentum. In politics, numbers matter—but so does narrative. And Bryan’s is fast becoming the most compelling story of the race: the underdog-turned-contender whose ascent is not driven by noise, but by movement.
This is energizing parts of the party base, especially among younger delegates and those who feel the NPP must modernize its brand if it wants to win in 2028.
It’s still early days. Flagbearer races – especially in the NPP – are long and unpredictable, often shaped in the final weeks by internal lobbying, regional alliances, and behind-the-scenes negotiations. Bawumia still has a formidable network and significant institutional backing. Kennedy Agyapong remains a charismatic campaigner with deep loyalty in the party’s grassroots.
But Bryan Acheampong has introduced a new and potent variable into the mix: momentum. And in politics, momentum can be contagious.
The next few months will be decisive. Will Bryan consolidate his gains and expand beyond his early bases of support? Will his surge invite tougher scrutiny, internal sabotage, or coordinated resistance from the frontrunners’ camps? Can he maintain his positioning as the campaign’s disruptor while transitioning into a consensus builder?
For now, the spotlight is firmly on him. What was once a two-horse race is now a three-way contest, and the man from Abetifi is not just making noise, he’s changing the narrative. If the trends continue, Bryan Acheampong may not only be catching up, he could be writing the NPP’s next chapter.
