Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their supporters to uphold unity, discipline and peace as the party’s flagbearer race gathers momentum, warning that internal divisions could weaken both the party and Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Mr Afenyo-Markin made the call on Thursday, January 22, at the signing of a peace pact by NPP presidential aspirants ahead of the party’s January 31 flagbearer election. He acknowledged the emotional strain of being in opposition but stressed that the party’s return to power would depend more on cohesion than confrontation.
“Power does not come through division. Power comes through discipline. Power comes through unity. Power comes through sacrifice,” the Minority Leader said.
He cautioned party members against inflammatory rhetoric and unguarded conduct, noting that the actions and utterances of leaders often influence behaviour at the grassroots. According to him, restraint at the top would help ensure calm and order throughout the party’s structures.
“Let us rise above anger. Let us rise above insults. Let us rise above short-term emotions for long-term victory,” he added, urging aspirants and supporters to remain focused on the bigger goal of winning the 2028 general election.
Mr Afenyo-Markin described internal party elections as a test of the NPP’s institutional strength and shared values, rather than a mere contest of personalities. He said the emphasis on peace at this stage was timely, stressing that stability within political parties contributes significantly to national stability.
He also appealed to aspirants to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters. “The tone you set will be a tone that filters down to the grassroots. When leaders speak with restraint, supporters listen with restraint,” he noted, calling for campaigns based on ideas rather than personal attacks.
The Minority Leader warned that prolonged infighting could undermine the NPP’s effectiveness in Parliament, particularly its role as the Minority in holding the government accountable. He cautioned that a divided party risks weakening parliamentary oversight and granting the governing side what he described as “a free pass” on issues such as corruption, economic hardship and governance failures.
Reflecting on the party’s history, Mr Afenyo-Markin said unity has often underpinned the NPP’s electoral successes, while internal discord has previously come at a high cost. He therefore urged members to learn from past experiences and avoid turning the flagbearer contest into a “festival of insult” instead of a healthy competition of ideas.
Ahead of the vote, he called on aspirants to respect laid-down processes, comply with security directives and reject violence, intimidation and vote-buying. He further emphasised the need for all contestants to accept the outcome of the election with dignity and rally behind the eventual flagbearer.
“A peace pact that ends with signatures, but not with changed behaviour, is a betrayal of this moment,” he said, outlining commitments such as refraining from personal attacks, resolving disputes through party structures and integrating talents from all camps into a united campaign.
Mr Afenyo-Markin concluded by appealing to party members at all levels to resist being used as instruments of division, insisting that a united NPP is not only vital for electoral success but also for strengthening Parliament’s role in safeguarding Ghana’s democracy.
