Let’s unite to reclaim power - Kufuor urges NPP supporters

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has asked members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to unite in its electioneering processes and work towards winning power.

He stressed the importance of unity and inclusivity within the party, which is essential if the party is to reclaim political power.

"It is better to be a messenger of a party in power than the general secretary of a party in opposition," he reminded the NPP members about the realities of political power.

Mr Kufuor said this at the launch of the party’s school, the Patriotic Institute, designed to deepen ideological education, build leadership capacity, and strengthen the party’s readiness for governance. 

Patriotic Institute

The mission of the Patriotic Institute is to nurture a generation of leaders and party faithful who possess a sound understanding of the NPP's history, ideology and constitution. It will train party members on effective communication, political messaging, campaign strategy and grassroots mobilisation.

The event, held in Accra yesterday, brought together some bigwigs of the party,  former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye and the General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong.

Governance

Mr Kufuor urged party members to focus on promoting good governance, inclusivity, and service to the general public, rather than getting bogged down in internal divisions.

He entreated members of the party to work together towards achieving power, regardless of their relationships or backgrounds.

That, he said, required engaging with grassroots members and making them feel valued, highlighting that trust and service to the public were crucial in building a strong party.

Concerning the institute, he stressed the need for it to deepen awareness of the responsible use of power and promote a culture of service to humanity.

He noted that opponents of the NPP had successfully propagated the perception that the party was tribally based, which could have serious electoral consequences if not addressed.

Minority Caucus

Speaking on behalf of the Minority caucus, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, urged members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be firmly rooted in the party’s values and ideological tradition.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is the NPP Member of Parliament for Effutu, urged supporters of the NPP to refrain from attacking or insulting party leaders on social media platforms.

“Don’t insult your leaders on social media. Use the party’s internal channels to express your concerns decently,” Afenyo-Markin advised.

He said the party’s loss should not be a moment of despair, but rather an opportunity for deep reflection and planning. 

Differences

He called on party members to set aside personal grievances and work together with renewed energy and purpose.

Mr Afenyo-Markin further appealed to NPP supporters to move beyond the anger and divisions of the past, stressing that unity was critical to the party reclaiming power and serving the interest of Ghanaians.

“Let’s put an end to the bitterness and divisions.

The elephant remains a winning symbol, and we shall win again — not just for the party, but to save Ghana,” he concluded.

He emphasised the importance of the institute to Parliament itself, saying it would help guide MPs in their legislative roles.

"As your leader in parliament with my colleagues supporting the calls of our party, let me emphasise how critical this initiative is, not just for the party but for parliament itself.

The Patriotic Institute should be the fulcrum through which the NPP nurtures its leaders and shapes our policy conversations in Parliament."