National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Youth Organiser, George Opare Addo, has called on the party to adopt a different approach to politics ahead of the national elections. In a Facebook post, he congratulated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the election of its new national executives and urged the NDC to resist the temptation of adopting a confrontational style of politics. Mr Opare Addo emphasised that the NDC should compete with the NPP through ideas, policy, organisation, and intellectual strength rather than aggression and intimidation.
The NPP recently elected new national executives, including John Boadu as National Chairman, Justin Kodua Frimpong as General Secretary, Titus Glover as National Organiser, and Abanga Fuseini as National Youth Organiser. Mr Opare Addo's comments come as a response to the NPP's new leadership, and he stressed that there is a distinction between being politically tough and being politically violent. He also highlighted the difference between mobilisation and intimidation, and between political competition and political warfare.
Mr Opare Addo cautioned that Ghana must not cross the line into political violence and urged political parties to prioritise democratic mobilisation. He stated that the answer to aggressive politics cannot be greater aggression, and the answer to political intimidation cannot be political intimidation. Instead, he advocated for a stronger commitment to democratic mobilisation and a focus on ideas, intellectual persuasion, and national consensus.
The NDC's forthcoming national executive elections provide an opportunity for the party to determine its political direction, according to Mr Opare Addo. He questioned whether political parties are increasingly becoming defined by aggressive mobilisation and political combat at the expense of ideas and intellectual persuasion. Mr Opare Addo asked if Ghanaian politics has been reduced to who can shout the loudest, produce the biggest crowd, or intimidate their opponents.
Mr Opare Addo emphasised that political parties must remember that their purpose extends beyond winning elections. He stated that Ghana's young people deserve political organisations that challenge them intellectually and address issues such as jobs, education, and their future. They deserve politics that tells them what is possible rather than politics that teaches them to hate the other side.
The NDC Youth Organiser called for the development of a political culture in which parties can be fierce competitors while remaining responsible in the exercise of power. He stated that the ultimate objective of politics should not be merely to capture power but to build a better Ghana. Mr Opare Addo's comments have sparked a broader conversation about the direction of Ghanaian politics and the need for a more responsible and issue-based approach.
As the national elections approach, Mr Opare Addo's message to the NDC is clear: the party must resist the temptation of confrontational politics and focus on ideas, policy, and intellectual strength. His call for a more responsible and issue-based approach to politics is a timely reminder of the importance of prioritising democratic mobilisation and the needs of Ghana's young people.
Key points
- George Opare Addo urges NDC to resist confrontational politics ahead of national elections
- Opare Addo advocates for a focus on ideas, policy, and intellectual strength in politics
- NDC's forthcoming national executive elections provide an opportunity to determine the party's political direction
