“There are two things in Africa today: if you want to be rich without working hard at all, be a politician or found a church.” – PLO Lumumba
Kwasi, our putative reader may not understand the intricacies of politics; he may not have dabbled in politics for a reasonably good time; He may be an “afraid man” or a “fear-fear” man, and not a political analyst. He may want to show unflinching support and political steadfastness, so he may not want to say anything “bad” about the party “in which he was born” (yewoo no too mu).
But a critical mind, a political/historical analyst would recall the history of NPP from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) days (1948)) to Baffour Akoto’s National Liberation Movement (NLM) days; to United Party (UP) days, in opposition to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP); the one party state of 1965; to the 1966 coup d’état of Kotoka/Afrifa, to Kofi Abrefa Busia’s rise through 1969-72, Progress Party (PP) to Acheampong’s coup of 1972; to the military skirmishes that brought General Fred Akuffo; to the Rawlings’s coup of June 4th 1979; to Dr. Hilla Limann’s rise through People’s National Convention (24th September, 1979); to J. J. Rawlings’s 1981 coup; till 1992 when J. J. beat Professor Adu Boahen to rule for 19 years; to the golden years of Kufuor … until 2001 to 2008… and he knows the rest… (Atta Mills, 2009-2012; J. D. Mahama 2012 – 2016; Akufo-Addo – 2017-2024; then Mahama again 2025-?)
How many people will be bold enough to challenge the assertion that (now) the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is among the most unattractive, unappealing and unalluring parties in Ghana? And the “sad” situation appears to grow worse and worse with each passing day.
“Oh judgment, thou art fled to Brutish beasts and men have lost their reason” Marcus Antonius would lament in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”.
And Kwasi quoque being “patriotic” to Ghana, and not skewed to a party or to a personality would lament with Marcus, to read the headlines: “NPP to elect flagbearer on January 31, 2026” (Daily Graphic); “It’s over; 60 MPs declare for DMB (Bawumia)” (The Chronicle).
Then the political savvy in us pushes us to ask many questions: “How many NPP members are in the presidential race: Patrick Yaw Boamah, Boakye Agyarko, Yaw Adutwum, Bryan Acheampong, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyapong, Dr. Bawumia, Joe Ghartey (no particular order)? And are these personalities not entitled to “equal treatment”?
Then reflect on the words of Founding Father, 83-year-old Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe: “The leadership that led the party into (ignominous – our own word) defeat cannot be trusted to conduct a credible process that aims at returning the party to power in 2028. We need a transparent, inclusive approach that strictly adheres to the party’s Constitution if we are serious about rebuilding the NPP.” Nyaho deprecates the “top-to-bottom” approach.
Which Ghanaian does not know Bawumia as a fine gentleman? Who said; “When the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you”? Who does not know Bawumia’s deep knowledge in Economics (save Captain Smart who sees “Bawumia’s PhD thesis as a collection of academic quotations, not ‘research’).
Who would not hail Bawumia for insisting: “Religious politics is dangerous for NPP… we are a united party encompassing people from all ethnic groups, all religions and we are all part of the elephant family … it is stated in black and white in the Oquaye report, as well as other surveys that religion and tribe were not factors in the 2024 election.
So we should not say that Christians would not vote for Bawumia. My 4.7m votes, were there only Muslims who voted for me? All voted for me… (Me as a hindrance?) … I wouldn’t have contested at all. I would have stepped aside if that is the case because I’m not a selfish person… I would not jeopardize the ability of the party to win the 2028 election.”
Call it a mature response to Stephen Amoah’s remarks: “Christians hardly vote for Muslim leaders.” And the million-dollar (or billion-cedi) question: “Where is the Oquaye Report?” And again, what were the Ebenezer Doku-led ex-MMDCEs doing at Bawumia’s residence, singing: “Adie no adane, yiee..”, (the tables have turned) from whom to whom? From Kennedy Agyapong’s residence or Bryan Acheampong’s where they had previously wined and dined? Without making any declaration – in support? Are the ex-MMDCEs principled? Was the enticement payola from Bawumia bigger? Or as Dr. Kwame Asante Ohene of Cape Coast University claims: Were they “political prostitutes”?
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Acton in 1887 was warning us: when power is unchecked and unlimited, the tendency towards abuse is great; without accountability, checks and balances, those in power overwhelmingly get the opportunity to prioritise their own needs… And did you hear Danquah Smith Butey, the 1st Vice Chairman hitting Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe below the belt and rubbishing Nyaho’s assertions for flouting the party’s Constitution? Is it Article 7 (a) ” … breach of the duty to uphold publicly Party policies… (g) bringing the name of the party into disrepute or public ridicule…? and you leave Kwame Baffoe (Abronye)?
So, election of a presidential candidate before polling station, District, Regional and National elections. To whose advantage? Will it be an advantage for the Establishment candidate? Is it a truism that in Ghana, one has to face the electorate two to three times before getting endorsed as a President, and “they” will cite the example of Kufuor or Akufo-Addo? I. K. Gyasi would exclaim: “Haba!”
The situation gets murkier, and people get browbeaten with the candidates bulldozing their way through trickery, deceit or enticement.
In what Yaw Nsarkoh calls “Santa Claus” democracy, the politicians have to dole out money to voters (even at primaries as was apparent at Ejisu Constituency in the rehearsal for the bye-election when John Kumah died), Prof. Agyemang Duah tells us the source of the funds for this “Santa Claus” display: corruption, euphemism for thievery of the public purse. So that a “new” road project cannot last more than three years, for it to be re-done… the auditors cannot trace the source of some funds from GCB to private accounts.
Are we interested in demonstrating J. B. Danquah’s democracy to attract the youth? Do you know the implications of one group or another in the same party feeling done in? Or feeling cheated? “Fear delegates”, Sir John would say. It is happening in NPP now, and no one gets bothered.
Do the NPP members forget that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) was once a Behemoth (or Leviathan) political party.
Afenyo Markin, the Minority Leader talks conciliatory; “My view is that we should be very neutral in all this (visiting Presidential candidates and making pronouncements) so that after the primary, we can bring all sides on board and be the advocates for peace.
Whilst Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Ex- Majority Leader defended the party’s decision to hold its presidential primary on January 31, 2026, Arthur Kennedy disagrees; “There is the need for renewal of the mandate by all party executives, from the polling station all the way to the national level…” The logical end of all this is getting everybody who is a party member to vote. That would help prevent the buying of delegates and ensure the true voice of the party’s rank and file was heard”. Oh, NPP paa nie? Is this Kufuor’s NPP?
