Let peace be the ultimate victory in NPP’s presidential primaries

As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the polls on Saturday to elect its presidential flagbearer, the nation watches not merely an internal party contest, but a defining moment in Ghana’s democratic journey.

Elections, whether national or intra-party, are tests of character. They reveal not only who wins power, but how power is sought, contested and accepted. In this regard, The Ghanaian Times exhorts that peace must be the ultimate victory before, during and after the NPP’s internal presidential election.

Political competition is the lifeblood of democracy. The NPP’s decision to open the contest to its delegates reflects a tradition of internal democracy that has strengthened the party over the years. Yet, history—both local and global—teaches that when passions run high and stakes are perceived as existential, the risk of division, recrimination and disorder also rises.

That is why restraint, tolerance and respect for due process are not optional virtues; they are democratic necessities.

In the lead-up to Saturday’s vote, aspirants and their supporters have vigorously canvassed for support, articulated visions and sought to persuade delegates. This is healthy. What must be avoided, however, is the descent into inflammatory rhetoric, personal attacks and actions that undermine trust in the process.

The Ghanaian Times reiterates that elections should be battles of ideas, not wars of attrition. No ambition, however noble it may seem to its holder, is worth endangering party unity or national cohesion.

The responsibility for peace rests first with the aspirants themselves. Leadership is measured not only by the ability to mobilise support, but also by the willingness to accept outcomes with dignity. Aspirants must publicly and consistently commit themselves to peaceful conduct and to accepting the verdict of the delegates.

Their words matter. A single careless statement can inflame tensions; a single conciliatory gesture can calm an entire constituency.

Supporters, too, have a crucial role to play. Loyalty to a candidate must never supersede loyalty to the party and the country. Delegates and foot soldiers alike must remember that today’s rival may be tomorrow’s ally.

The language of insults, threats and triumphalism has no place in a democratic contest. Victory celebrated with arrogance plants the seeds of future defeat; loss accepted with bitterness weakens the very cause one seeks to advance.

We call on the party leadership and election managers to ensure that the process is transparent, credible and fair. Clear rules, effective communication and prompt resolution of disputes are essential to maintaining confidence.

Where grievances arise, established party mechanisms—not the court of public opinion or the streets—must be the avenue for redress. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.

Beyond the NPP itself, the wider Ghanaian public has a stake in the outcome and the conduct of this election. Political parties are schools of governance. How they manage internal contests often foreshadows how they will manage national power.

A peaceful, orderly and credible primary will reinforce Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democratic stability in the region. Conversely, chaos and division would erode public confidence and hand ammunition to cynics who doubt the value of democratic politics.

As the ballots are cast and counted, all eyes must remain fixed on the bigger picture. The NPP is larger than any individual, and Ghana is larger than any party.

After Saturday, there must be no winners and losers—only a party preparing itself, united and focused, for the task of national leadership.

In the final analysis, peace is not a sign of weakness; it is a mark of maturity. It is the clearest evidence that democracy is working.

As the NPP chooses its flagbearer, may calm heads prevail, may institutions be respected, and may unity triumph over division. That, more than any victory margin, will be the true measure of success.

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