By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
In a candid revelation, Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Abetifi and former Minister of State at the National Security Ministry, has disclosed that he intentionally accepted blame for the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence to shield the Akufo-Addo government, despite asserting his innocence.
Addressing a gathering of former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at Rock City Hotel in Nkwatia-Kwahu, Eastern Region, Acheampong reflected on the events leading up to and following the controversial by-election. He recounted how he was unjustly vilified in the aftermath of the violence, which remains a dark chapter in Ghana’s electoral history.
“Everyone in this country knows I’ve been vilified for Ayawaso even internationally. On the day of the incident, I was actually sitting here. I had been sidelined,” Acheampong explained. He recalled interactions with key figures such as Oppong Nkrumah, Bernard Avle, and then Deputy Attorney-General Godfred Dame, who inquired about the unfolding events. The incident involved masked men, widely reported as vigilantes, attacking voters and opposition members at the La-Bawaleshie polling station.
Acheampong clarified that he identified some of the masked men as National Security operatives, not vigilantes as was widely claimed. “I went on radio and said those boys were not vigilantes; I knew some of them from National Security,” he said. Despite this, public and media backlash intensified, and he found himself under severe scrutiny.
“I knew I had no involvement in the operation, but I chose not to deny the party or the security personnel. I kept quiet to protect the government’s image,” he added. Acheampong explained that his silence was a strategic decision aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the ruling party and the government, even if it meant personal sacrifice.
“I took one for the team,” he stated. “It was about protecting the NPP and the government’s reputation. We made sacrifices, financed the process, and endured the fallout.”
The Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election was held on January 31, 2019, following the death of then-MP Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko. The election was marred by violence involving masked security operatives assaulting voters and opposition supporters, including NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, who was among those assaulted. Several victims sustained gunshot wounds, prompting widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
A Commission of Inquiry was established in February 2019 to investigate the incident, but its recommendations have yet to be fully implemented. President John Mahama recently announced that the Attorney General was finalizing a report to be presented to Cabinet, which would include proposals for compensation to victims and their families affected by the electoral disturbances.
Acheampong’s remarks shed light on the complex dynamics behind one of Ghana’s most controversial electoral episodes, highlighting the personal and political sacrifices made in the pursuit of national stability and party loyalty.
