Let’s prioritise well-being of our people - Vice-President to African leaders

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on African leaders to rise above partisan interests and prioritise improvement in the well-being of their people.

"Our people do not ask us to engage in politics for its own sake—they deserve politics that delivers food security, decent jobs, functional schools, accessible health care, efficient infrastructure, safety and justice," she said.

Speaking at the African Political Parties summit in Accra yesterday, she urged political parties to forge alliances and work together even as strongest opponents to build long-term policies and projects that would survive beyond their political careers and serve “not just today’s generation but the next”.

The three-day summit, which is on the theme: “From politics to prosperity,” has leaders from over 30 African countries in attendance.

Objectives

The summit aims to foster dialogue, chart collaborative pathways for development, and also redefine the role of politics in advancing the well-being of African citizens.

The occasion was marked by a sombre reflection on the recent tragedy in the country where eight persons lost their lives in a helicopter crash while on duty.

It serves as the continental platform for advancing the African political parties initiative (APPI), a transformative framework designed to build policy, organisational and strategic capabilities of African political parties.

Attending are the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Africa Governance Centre (AGC), Jeff Radebe; the Chairperson of the Executive Council of AGC, Benedicta Lasi, and the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, among others.

It is organised by the AGC, in partnership with other organisations, to champion inclusive governance and cooperative leadership across the continent.

This summit also marks the launch of the African Political Parties Initiative, a new platform designed to help parties across Africa talk to each other more often, solve disagreements peacefully, and work together on common goals. 

Democracy

Drawing from the country’s democratic journey, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said that true democracy was measured not just by peaceful elections, but by the ability of political rivals to become partners in building a national vision.

“Democracy must be adversarial only in the marketplace of ideas, because power is transient while the nation endures.

"We will not agree on everything, but if we can agree on the fundamentals—that Africa’s peace, unity, and well-being are non-negotiable, then we will have already taken a decisive step forward," she added.

The Vice-President cited the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as proof that African unity was possible, but said that treaties alone were not enough since “it requires political will across party lines to harmonise policies, remove barriers, and open opportunities for trade and investment”. 

Vision

For his part, the NDC General Secretary urged leaders to uphold the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah to propel development, saying that despite 68 years of independence, Ghana and many African nations still lag behind the lofty ideals of their founding fathers.

He expressed concern over growing disillusionment among African youth towards democracy, and warned that without reforms, democratic processes risked losing legitimacy.

Mr Kwetey acknowledged that no single leader or party had all the answers. "Humility demands that we accept we do not. Our role is to create the enabling environment for all forms of leadership to flourish," he said.

Objective

Mr Radebe said the centre and its flagship African Political Parties Initiative aimed to institutionalise cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, share strategies across borders, and focus on competence in governance rather than just campaign success.

He challenged political leaders to abandon “empty politics” and commit to transformative governance that delivers tangible results for the continent’s people.

“Parties are not mere campaign machines; they are the custodians of vision, the architects of policy, and the gatekeepers of leadership," the chairman added.