3Voices | Opinion:
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As Ghana embarks on a bold and comprehensive reset agenda, there is one fundamental truth that must be confronted: no national transformation can succeed without reforming the institutions that shape leadership—our political parties. These parties are not merely electoral machines; they are the breeding grounds of leadership development and governance culture. If these institutions are weak, corrupt, or compromised, the quality of national governance will inevitably reflect those same flaws.
The Root of the Problem Lies Within the Political Parties
The persistent national issues of corruption, mismanagement, patronage, impunity, division, and exclusivity do not begin in public office. They are cultivated and normalized within the internal structures of political parties. Ghana’s political parties have, over time, transformed into closed, hierarchical systems where loyalty, ethnic or religious connections, and financial muscle often override competence, vision, and integrity.
This dysfunction is not only dangerous for party credibility—it is dangerous for democracy. Parties that do not uphold democratic values internally cannot be expected to defend them in government.
The Threat of Hate Speech and Identity Politics
A particularly dangerous dimension of this internal rot is the increasing normalization of hate speech and identity-based political rhetoric. Political actors in Ghana have increasingly resorted to divisive language—targeting ethnic, regional, or religious identities for short-term political gain. These actions undermine national unity and erode public trust in democratic institutions, especially when left unchecked.
Worryingly, there is often no internal party accountability or sanctions for such conduct. This silence emboldens others and sets a dangerous precedent.
Contrast this with more mature democracies:
In the UK, for instance, former London Mayor Ken Livingstone was suspended by the Labour Party and investigated by the Committee on Standards in Public Life over comments deemed anti-Semitic. Similar disciplinary actions have occurred in Germany, the United States, and South Africa, where political parties enforce internal codes of conduct to maintain public integrity and cohesion.
Ghana’s parties must urgently adopt clear codes of conduct against hate speech and apply enforceable disciplinary measures. No one should be above accountability—not even flagbearers or founding members.
What Must Be Done – The Reset Within Parties
1. Internal Democracy
• Ensure that leadership selection is transparent, participatory, and merit-based.
• Prevent the imposition of candidates through top-down appointments or manipulated primaries.
2. Accountability
• Enforce disciplinary structures that punish misconduct—be it financial impropriety, abuse of office, or inflammatory rhetoric.
• Hold party officials to standards equal to or higher than those they demand of public officeholders.
3. Transparency
• Publish financial reports detailing party income and expenditure, especially around campaign financing.
• Open up decision-making structures to allow for meaningful member engagement and scrutiny.
4. Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech
• Codify hate speech as a disciplinary offence in party constitutions.
• Establish oversight bodies within parties to investigate and sanction divisive rhetoric, regardless of rank.
Why This Reset is Urgent
• Rebuild Public Trust: Citizens are disillusioned with the political class. Restoring credibility begins with integrity and openness within party structures.
• Foster Meritocracy: When competence and character are rewarded over tribal affiliation or personal loyalty, leadership quality improves across board.
• Preserve National Unity: Curtailing hate speech and divisive politics is essential to maintain peace, inclusion, and a sense of shared national identity.
• Set an Example: Parties must demonstrate the values they expect from society—respect, discipline, fairness, and accountability.
The Ripple Effect of a Party Reset
• Institutional Reform: Political parties feed into every branch of government. Clean parties produce clean institutions.
• Improved Governance: Leaders who emerge from credible processes are more responsive, visionary, and ethical.
• Sustainable Democracy: When political competition is based on ideas rather than tribal or sectarian lines, democracy thrives.
Conclusion: The Reset Must Begin Where Leadership Begins
Ghana cannot reset its economy, restore confidence in public institutions, or safeguard its democracy until its political parties reform themselves. That reform must go beyond slogans and manifestos—it must be structural, cultural, and value-driven.
Political parties must evolve into democratic institutions of integrity, where leaders are developed—not selected by the highest bidder or the loudest agitator. They must be spaces of inclusion, competence, and ethical leadership. Only then can they rightfully claim the mandate to govern a diverse, aspirational, and forward-looking Ghana.
By Akwasi Opong-Fosu
Governance and Public Policy Analyst and a former Minister of State
