Grassroots Kingmaker, Don King declares support for Bryan Acheampong

Mohammed Amin, widely known as Don King, has officially declared his support for Dr. Bryan Acheampong in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership race, in what is being described as a major grassroots breakthrough for the Abetifi MP’s campaign.

Don King, a revered grassroots organiser and NPP powerhouse in the Northern Regions, has been largely inactive in party affairs in recent years.

However, following a strategic meeting with Dr. Acheampong, the political heavyweight has returned with renewed energy and a clear mission—to help Bryan Acheampong become the next leader of the NPP.

“Don King has promised to work for the party again after meeting Dr. Bryan Acheampong,” said Alhaji Baba, Director of Operations for the Acheampong Campaign, in an interview with Radio Tamale.

"He believes Bryan is the only person who can unite the NPP and return it to power in 2028. He told us he won’t rest until Bryan becomes leader and eventually, President of Ghana.”

Don King’s influence in Northern Ghana, especially among Zongo communities and youth groups, has long been recognised as a vital political asset.

Party insiders say his return signals a shift in momentum within the grassroots base, where loyalty and personal mobilisation often trump national visibility.

The Acheampong campaign is expected to deploy Don King in a lead role to revive dormant campaign structures, rebuild trust among disillusioned party foot soldiers, and increase delegate outreach in strategic constituencies across the north.

Though he has yet to make a public appearance, Don King is expected to join Dr. Acheampong on the campaign trail in the coming weeks.

The campaign is planning a major mobilisation event in Tamale to mark his official return.

With the NPP’s January 31 congress fast approaching, Don King’s endorsement could prove decisive in tipping the scales in a tightly contested race especially among delegates who value loyalty, fieldwork, and party-building over incumbency.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith