EDITORIAL: Beyond victory: The bigger hurdle ahead

The New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer election last Saturday has delivered more than a decisive winner.

It has offered a timely reminder that internal democracy, when well managed, can strengthen both party and nation.

Last Saturday’s exercise, conducted across the country, was by most accounts peaceful, orderly and credible.

In a political environment where internal contests sometimes breed rancour and division, the NPP’s process stands out as an example worth noting.

Delegates queued, ballots were cast, and results were declared without major incidents.

For that alone, the party, its organisers and the security agencies deserve commendation.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory was clear and decisive.

The wide margin gives him a strong mandate from the party’s delegates to lead it into the 2028 general election.

More importantly, his victory speech struck the right notes.

His emphasis on reconciliation, discipline and cooperation after competition was both appropriate and necessary.

The Daily Graphic notes that in politics, tone matters, and a winner who speaks first of unity rather than triumphalism sets a constructive direction for the road ahead.

Dr Bawumia’s call for members to subordinate personal preferences to party cohesion was both inspiring and pragmatic.

The other contestants also deserve warm congratulations.

Their spirited campaigns enriched the party’s internal discourse and offered delegates real choices.

Competitive primaries are not a sign of weakness but of vitality.

By stepping forward to contest, they deepened democracy within the NPP and, by extension, in Ghana’s broader democratic culture.

Indeed, many Ghanaians and political watchers beyond the country followed the process closely on digital platforms and traditional media, a testament to the growing global interest in Ghana’s democratic journey.

Particularly commendable is the gracious manner in which the unsuccessful aspirants accepted the verdict of the delegates and pledged their support to the winner.

Conceding defeat is not always easy in politics, yet it is a critical democratic virtue.

Their posture has sent a powerful signal to supporters that the larger project of party unity and national service must override individual ambition.

That spirit of sportsmanship is the first building block toward any serious attempt at victory in 2028.

Credit must also go to the Ghana Police Service for helping to maintain peace, law and order throughout the exercise.

Calm elections do not happen by accident; they are the product of planning, professionalism and restraint.

Likewise, the Electoral Commission and party election officials merit praise for conducting the polls without a hitch.

Efficient electoral management builds confidence not only among party members but also among citizens who look to such processes as a barometer of democratic health.

Yet, even as the party celebrates, it must remain clear-eyed.

Campaigns, by their nature, generate sharp rhetoric.

Inevitably, some toes were stepped on, and some words may have cut deeper than intended.

Supporters, in their enthusiasm, sometimes go further than the candidates themselves. Pretending these tensions do not exist would be naïve.

The real test of unity begins after the applause fades.

It is therefore crucial for the leading personalities in the contest to demonstrate, consistently and visibly, that they have moved beyond the primary. Symbolic gestures of togetherness, joint appearances and coordinated messaging will matter.

Optics at the top have a way of filtering down to the grassroots.

When supporters see their leaders cooperating genuinely, reconciliation becomes easier to internalise.

The NPP must also remember that winning a primary is not the same as winning a national election.

The real work has just begun, and the bigger hurdle lies ahead.

Rebuilding trust with the broader electorate, refining policy messages and addressing the everyday concerns of Ghanaians will determine success in 2028 far more than internal victory margins.

Disagreements are natural in any human group.

What distinguishes a successful party from a failing one is not the absence of disagreement but the maturity with which it is managed.

Dialogue, compromise and discipline are the tools that turn diversity of opinion into collective strength.

As the NPP turns the page, it does so with momentum and a renewed sense of purpose.

If it can sustain the spirit of unity, fairness and orderliness displayed in this primary, it will have laid a solid foundation for the journey ahead.

We wish the NPP well as it sets out to recapture political power in the next general election.

Ghana’s democracy is stronger when its political parties are strong, stable and internally democratic.