Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has issued a powerful call to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the broader Ghanaian political community to prioritize competence and individual merit over tribal, religious, or gender considerations in the selection of political leaders.
Speaking at the official launch of the NPP Patriotic Institute on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the former president emphasized that democratic governance must be rooted in meritocracy, not identity politics.
“We are a democratic party and we uphold common humanity. So, in a democracy, we don’t go for tribe or religion or gender, but the individual,” Kufuor stated.
Leadership Must Be About Solutions, Not Slogans
Kufuor’s remarks come at a time when the NPP is preparing for its flagbearer election on January 31, 2026, ahead of the 2028 general elections. The build-up has been marred by intra-party tensions, personal attacks, and factional rivalries among camps of potential aspirants.
He warned that such divisions and identity-based campaigning threaten the unity of the party and could hand political ammunition to opponents.
“When we start saying things ourselves, then our opponents use them against us—that we are tribal or religiously biased. If this happens, we are only compounding the problem,” he cautioned.
A Call for Unity, Truth, and Competence
The former president emphasized that any candidate hoping to win public trust must be judged by their ability to address the nation’s challenges and to serve the collective good, not by their background.
He urged party members and Ghanaians at large to rally around values such as integrity, truthfulness, and developmental focus rather than falling back on divisive identity politics.
“If we want power, we have to present a person who will be convincing to the generality of the electorate,” he added.
Rising Above Tribal Politics in Ghana
Kufuor’s comments serve as a timely reminder that Ghana’s democratic progress depends on strengthening institutions and electing leaders based on track record and capability, not on ethnicity, religion, or gender.
As political parties gear up for the next electoral cycle, the former president’s message stands as both a warning and a guiding principle for sustaining Ghana’s democracy.
Source: https://www.ghanaweb.com
