By J.A. Sarbah
In 1992, as Ghana emerged from the shadows of military rule, a new democratic order was born — and with it, a political tradition that many of us, then young university students, embraced with both heart and intellect. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not just another party; it was a movement of minds, rooted in ideas, rule of law, liberalism, constitutionalism, and enlightened leadership.
We joined because the NPP was different — deliberate, principled, and elite in vision but grounded in public service. Its presidential flagbearers told the story:
John Agyekum Kufuor — statesman, lawyer, calm reformer, policy-oriented;
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo — a lawyer, human rights defender, constitutional democrat;
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia — a technocrat, economist, banker, and digital transformer.
Dr. Bawumia is not a breakaway from this lineage. He is its natural progression — a fusion of policy, intellect, calm demeanor, and modern solutions. He stands firmly within the ideals that built the NPP: pro-market policy, responsible governance, and enlightened leadership.
Even the opposition has evolved. After the raw populism of Rawlings, the NDC presented J.E.A. Mills — an academic, lawyer, and tax expert. Then John Mahama, a communications specialist and measured figure. The loud, crass, populist politics of yesteryear has faded — replaced by more refined contenders across board.
Yet ironically, just as Ghana’s politics matures, some in our own party advocate regression. They praise buga-buga bravado, glorify gangsterism, and belittle thoughtfulness. They call it “grassroots energy”; we see it as ideological rot. It is, metaphorically, putting shoes on our hands — a tragic distortion of who we are.
Let it be clearly understood: this January 2026 Presidential Primaries is a contest for the very soul of the party — not merely a clash of personalities.
Let us remain the party of decency, depth, and direction. Anything less is betrayal — not just of our past, but of our promise.
This tradition must not descend into the gutter or abandon its noble base. It must remain a civic-driven, policy-oriented political tradition — not a theatre for chaos.
J. A. Sarbah | PP Firebrand | Voice of National Conscience
