Elections think tank Election Watch Ghana is raising concerns about the trend of the campaign leading up to the January 31 Presidential Primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It said given the success of the party in the Fourth Republic, having produced two Presidents for the country, the recent campaign rhetoric marked by ethnocentric remarks and personal attacks in an attempt to choose a flagbearer must be of concern to all.
“The electorate deserves a campaign focused on policy proposals, digital transformation, and a clear vision for Ghana’s future — echoing the standards set by leaders like Prof. Adu Boaten, President John Kufuor, and President Akufo-Addo who championed progress through principled politics,” noted a press release signed by conveners Mark Ewusi Arkoh and Jude Balma.
Election Watch Ghana later observed: “Such trends threaten to make the January primaries one of the most tense and security-challenged elections in the NPP’s history.”
It, therefore, urged all five aspirants and their supporters as well as leadership of the party “to refrain from rhetoric that could escalate tensions or undermine national cohesion”.
“Political contest should elevate Ghana’s democratic values, not erode them.”
It called on the Elections Security Task Force of the Ghana Police Service to engage the party by treating the upcoming event not as a part affair but a national project.