Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has issued a strong call to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to move beyond tribal and religious affiliations and instead rally behind candidates with proven leadership qualities and a commitment to national problem-solving.
Speaking at the launch of the NPP’s new think tank, the Patriotic Institute, on Wednesday, June 25, Mr. Kufuor warned against the rising tide of sectarian rhetoric as the party gears up for its 2026 flagbearer election, ahead of the crucial 2028 general elections.
The former president, widely regarded as a stabilizing and visionary figure within the party, reminded members of the NPP’s democratic roots and urged them to return to principles that prioritize competence, unity, and national development over parochial interests.
“In a democracy, we don’t go for tribe or religion or gender but the individual.
It is one man, one vote, and if we want power, we have to present a person who will be convincing to the generality of the electorate,” he stated.
His remarks come amid intensifying internal competition, with early jostling and personal attacks among prospective candidates sparking concerns about disunity and the role of identity politics within the party.
The NPP’s leadership race is set to culminate in the election of a new flagbearer on January 31, 2026, and Mr. Kufuor’s comments appear aimed at steering the party away from potentially divisive paths.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who led Ghana from 2001 to 2009, cautioned that internal promotion of tribal or religious preferences plays into long-standing opposition narratives that label the NPP as exclusionary.
“We’ve been brushed by our opponents as a tribal party — and these days, we are even adding religion.
If these things come from our own mouths, then I tell you, we are perpetuating it ourselves,” he warned.
Instead, he called on the NPP to engage in self-reflection and uphold its founding ideals by selecting a leader who is capable of unifying the country and addressing the pressing economic and social challenges facing ordinary Ghanaians.
“Tell the truth to ourselves,” he urged, “and choose someone who can help solve the problems of the community at large, so the benefit spreads across the board for all.”
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