Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged aspirants in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer race to eschew insults and foster unity to safeguard the party’s cohesion ahead of the upcoming elections.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new NPP constituency office in Bantama on Friday, September 19, Kufuor called on party members vying for leadership positions to exercise restraint in their campaigns and avoid inflammatory rhetoric that could fracture the party.
“Siblings fight for power. So when you are at a party such as ours and claim to be a democrat, you will naturally fight for power. But it is an abomination for one to take power and completely push the other aside. When that happens, you won’t get the numbers,” he cautioned.
Kufuor’s remarks come amid growing concerns over deepening divisions and personal attacks among aspirants and their supporters, which threaten the NPP’s unity and electoral prospects.
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He specifically addressed the use of derogatory language in the race, urging candidates to uphold decorum.
“So let us not insult or disparage one another. Those contesting the flagbearership have been heard saying some of the most painful and hurtful things. It could be that the candidates themselves, or those supporting them, are encouraging people around them to speak in such ways on their behalf,” he stated.
The former president acknowledged that some derogatory remarks might stem from overzealous supporters rather than the candidates themselves, noting, “Sometimes, too, the candidates may have no idea. It may simply be people around them picking on the other candidate.”
Kufuor emphasized that while internal competition is a hallmark of democracy, it must be grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to the NPP’s vision.
Meanwhile, the Council of Elders of the NPP has established a five-member adhoc committee to oversee and regulate conduct during the party’s flagbearer race ahead of the January 31, 2026, presidential primaries.
NPP sets up five-member committee to police flagbearer campaign against personal attacks
Chaired by Ing. Kwasi Abeasi, the committee includes Alex Glover-Quartey, Ato Hamilton, Kwadwo Afari, and Mark Opoku.
Its mandate focuses on monitoring aspirants, campaign teams, and supporters to curb personal attacks and divisive tactics such as tribal or religious bigotry, while recommending corrective or disciplinary measures to preserve party unity and reputation.
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