…No service in Afghanistan or Iraq
An attempt by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture, to cut a cult figure of himself, has landed him in trouble, with people all out scavenging for information to prove whether he was indeed, a US-trained military officer made of steel and brawn which he has portrayed himself to be.
So far, the information dug out has made interesting revelations, including confirmation that Bryan Acheampong, was trained in the US as a private soldier, but that he did not receive any sophisticated military training, as he has publicly displayed.
Mr Acheampong, had built a myth around himself by refusing to disclose his true military credentials, insisting they were “classified”, however, after opening his mouth wider than expected venturing to speak about what the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will do come the 2024 general elections, many people are all out for him.
It has since emerged that Bryan, did not step out of the US to any combat zone like Afghanistan or Iraq after his six weeks basic military training as many of his peers did at the time, hence could not be holding himself as a soldier whose work with the US military was a “top secret” information.
The records reveal that, after qualifying as a personnel of Air Force and Air National Guard of the United States Army (ANGUS), Bryan served at the “Air National Guard [from] May 31, 2005 to March 1, 2009. His “active duty dates” were mentioned as “July 35 (sic) 2006 to September 12, 2006”.
Interestingly, his rank at the time of his discharge from the US military was mentioned as “E-3” (Private First Class) meaning he was only a recruit not a Commissioned Officer. He did not receive any promotion either. He simply left as a private soldier.
While some, including Alex Mould, have claimed he was a cook onboard a US Air Force plane, others have maintained that he was rather a fuel attendant.
The ideal of that Bryan being a cook on an Air force plane, has been around for some time and more made plausible because he had held the position of a Dining Hall Prefect at the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon in Accra, however, report that he was rather a fuel attendant is new to many.
It has emerged that as a military personnel, he never saw any action and he was not involved in combat.
Although, there had been claims that Bryan was in Afghanistan and Iraq as US army officer, a released by Kevin Taylor of Loud Silence fame document detailing the MPs recruitment till the time of his discharge showed that Bryan’s “Assignments and Geographical locations” had mainly been at the “National Guard Rhode Island” in the US State of Rhode Island.
Bryan, according to Kevin’s document, is listed to have attended Fuels Apprentice School which according to The Herald’s findings recruits are through Aircraft Fuel Systems by the US Air Force.
On Decorations and Awards, Bryan was listed as having received “Air Force Training Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal”.
He is said to have entered the US Air Force at Providence Rhode Island which is also listed as the “place of separation”.
No transcript of the Court-martial trial was found on him.
Mr Acheampong, had courted some public anger while addressing supporters at Mpraeso on Saturday, when he said that the ruling NPP will never hand over power to the opposition NDC in 2025.
The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security, who had been struggling to get off the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence perpetuated by operatives of the National Security off his neck, shockingly added that the NPP will do everything possible to remain in power.
He charged “NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasize]. It will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure the NPP remains in government at all cost”.
But the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, slammed the MP and accused the NPP of attempting to subvert the will of the people in 2024, adding the NDC will do everything possible within its power to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people.
“In furtherance of the above evil agenda, there has been a systematic bastardization of every single independent state institution under this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. The once respected Electoral Commission has recently witnessed a new low, following the appointment of hardline New Patriotic Party activists into very sensitive positions in the Commission. This action by President Akufo-Addo has left many observers worried and helped to confirm that the ultimate agenda of the NPP is to use every desperate scheme to hold on to power at all cost.
“The NDC, a party that both in the years 2001 and 2017, handed power to NPP when the people of Ghana voted for the NPP, wants to assure Ghanaians that we SHALL DO EVERYTHING that is necessary to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people. We wish to assure the good people of Ghana of our resolve and readiness to do whatever is necessary to preserve the democratic will of the people – even at the peril of our lives. The supreme will of the Ghanaian electorate will be manifested come December 7, 2024.”
The Legal Team of the NDC has since petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to immediately arrest and prosecute Mr Acheampong.
The Director of Legal Affairs of the NDC, Abraham Amaliba described the statement by Acheampong as an affront to the constitution and a threat to the security of Ghana.
Speaking to the press after petitioning the Ghana Police Service on the matter, Abraham Amaliba stressed that the police must arrest Bryan Acheampong immediately.
“We were at the CID office to present to the CID boss, a petition, calling on the department to arrest, investigate and prosecute the Minister of Agric, Bryan Acheampong for the uncivil comments that he made during the Easter break. You are aware that he, in a viral video, said that they, the NPP, will not hand over power to the NDC come what may. And as lawyers, we are of the view that his comments on that day bother on national security and an affront to national security”.
“As lawyers, we think that the police administration must be interested in this matter. As stakeholders in this democratic dispensation, we will not sit by for one person to pass comments that will bring unrest in this country. The CID boss assured us that she will take the necessary steps,” he said.
Excerpts of the petition read, “That Your Petitioner says that the said Bryan Acheampong continued to say that they-NPP will show the NDC that the NPP have the men, and that the NPP will do everything possible-fair or foul means to remain in power come what may in the 2024 general elections. I enclose herein, audios and videos of the utterances of Hon Bryan Acheampong for your perusal”.
“That, in the estimation of Your Petitioner and those of the general public, the statements uttered by Bryan Acheampong could be interpreted to mean that the NPP has conceived a grand scheme to subvert the will of the people of Ghana in the 2024 elections and any attempt to resist them would be met with violence”.
A founding member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, slammed the Abetifi MP for claiming that the ruling party will hold on to power at all cost.
The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) Emmanuel Akwetey, has also condemned the MP and called on the Police Service to invite and question him over his claims that the ruling NPP will never hand over power to the opposition NDC.
Dr Akwetey, believes questioning the MP over the comments will assure Ghanaians that the Police Service is consistent when it comes to inviting politicians who make reckless comments.
Dr Akwetey speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday said the comments by Mr Acheampong are incendiary and reckless and must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking people in society.
He added that it is important the claims are investigated to determine if there is more to his claims.
“I think that in the past when people have made statements that threaten our national unity or security, the Police deal with them. It happened to Kennedy Agyapong about the statement that Asante or Akans are being threatened, he was invited. Koku Anyidoho was also invited, we also heard of Mr [Ofosu] Ampofo, he is in court, so can the Police show a fair hand…could they invite him.”
“The rule of law requires that incendiary, subversive statements ought to be investigated,” Dr Akwetey added.
However, the ruling NPP in a statement defended Bryan Acheampong.
Flagbearer hopeful of NDC John Dramani Mahama, addressing party delegates in the Akuapem North and South Constituencies at Akropong in the Eastern region yesterday said regardless of the stance taken by the NPP, the NDC will not underplay the role of God in the 2024 elections. He said the NDC is unfazed by Bryan Acheampong’s claim.
