General News of Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

US Air Force release details of Bryan Acheampong's service - Report

Bryan Acheampong is MP for Abetifi and agric minister Bryan Acheampong is MP for Abetifi and agric minister

Days after a purported US Air Force certificate of Abefiti Member of Parliament, Bryan Acheampong was published by opposition members on social media to call out the MP for some controversial political comments, further details of his days as a military man has emerged.

US-based social media broadcaster, Kevin Taylor on Sunday, April 10 published documents he claims to have gotten from the US military's National Personnel Records Center [National Archives] through the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA.

As part of information releasable under the Act, details of Acheampong's four years in the army were given as follows.

a. The MP's status is given as "DISCHARGED"

b. His assignment and geographical location was also given as NATIONAL GUARD RHODES ISLAND.

c. Bryan, the document stated was trained at FUELS APPRENTICE SCHOOL.

d. With respect to medals and decorations, Bryan received two - AIR FORCE TRAINING RIBBON - NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL and GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL.

e. His service duration was given as MAY 31, 2005 - MARCH 1, 2009. He was, however, active from JULY 5, 2006 - SEPTEMBER 12, 2006.

Purported Certificate saga

The certificate was first shared by National Communications officer of the National Democratic Congress [NDC], Sammy Gyamfi in his response to a recent political 'boom' by Acheampong, who is also Member of Parliament for Abetifi.

Addressing a New Patriotic Party [NPP] rally in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 8, the minister said his party was never going to relinquish power to the opposition National Democratic Congress after the 2024 General Elections.

The MP's comment has attracted a lot of backlash especially from members of the NDC daring him and others to try rigging the upcoming polls.

Sammy Gyamfi in reacting to the comments via a Facebook post, described them as "ludicrous tantrums."

He attached two photos, one of the said certificate and the other a brochure of the US Air Force in which Acheampong is captured along with others.



Check the certificate and brochure page below:



Gyamfi, through his post also stressed the importance of sovereignty to drive home the point that power rested with the people and not with a political party.

He also took a swipe at the military background of the minister who served for two years in the US Air Force.

"Ignore the ludicrous tantrums of Bryan Acheampong. Sovereignty resides in the people and not in a man who only served as a mere Airman Basic (the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force immediately below airman) for about 2 years.

"Majority of the Ghanaian electorate will surely vote for change come 2024 and nobody can subvert their will.

"If Bryan and his ilk are motivated by getting away with the evil they perpetrated during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections and the 2020 elections, then they are sorely mistaken, for it will not be business as usual. Notice is hereby served," his post read.



Bryan Acheampong's outburst at Kwahu

Bryan Acheampong is on record as saying the governing New Patriotic Party will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.

According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.

He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.

Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed that "We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections...It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power."

SARA