Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, who is also the NDC National Youth Organiser, George Opare Addo, has congratulated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on electing new national executives, but says the outcome should force a deeper reflection on the future of Ghanaian politics.
In a statement titled “What has become of Ghanaian politics?”, Opare Addo said while the NPP’s choice must be respected, it raises legitimate questions about the direction political mobilisation in Ghana is heading.
The NPP on Saturday elected a new team led by John Boadu as National Chairman, Justin Frimpong Kodua as General Secretary, Titus Glover as National Organiser and Abanga Fuseini as National Youth Organiser, among others, to rebuild the party ahead of the 2028 elections.
“That is democracy. And democracy demands that we respect the choices political parties make,” he stated.
He however questioned whether Ghanaian politics is drifting towards confrontation, aggressive mobilisation and political combat rather than ideas and national consensus.
“There is a difference between being politically tough and being politically violent. There is a difference between mobilisation and intimidation,” he warned.
Turning his attention to his own party, Opare Addo said the upcoming NDC national executive elections should not be about who can win an internal contest, but about what kind of NDC Ghana needs.
He recalled that the 2022 NDC leadership change under Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Fifi Kwetey was more than a personnel change – it was a reset that helped the party rebrand, reach the middle class, young professionals, students and the business community, leading to its 2024 presidential and parliamentary victory.
He cited the Green Army initiative by the youth wing as an example of organising young people around purpose and political consciousness, not just numbers at rallies.
According to him, the NDC must not be tempted to respond to the NPP’s new leadership style by becoming a replica.
“The answer to aggressive politics cannot be greater aggression. The answer to political intimidation cannot be political intimidation of our own. The answer to violence must be a stronger commitment to democratic mobilisation,” he said.
Opare Addo argued the next NDC leadership must be modern, intellectually confident, inclusive and capable of inspiring youth without weaponising them.
“Let the NPP choose its path. Let the NDC choose ours,” he stated, adding that delegates should ask not only who can defeat the NPP, but who can build the kind of NDC Ghana needs.
“An NDC that is fierce in competition but responsible in power,” he concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme