Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for restraint and unity within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as internal contests heat up ahead of the party’s flagbearer race.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new NPP constituency office in Bantama on Friday, September 19, Kufuor urged party members vying for leadership positions to exercise caution in their campaigns and avoid inflammatory language that could tear the party apart.
“Siblings fight for power. So when you are in 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 warned.
The former president’s remarks come amid growing concerns over deepening divisions and personal attacks among aspirants and their supporters. He cautioned that such behaviour threatens the party’s unity and electoral strength.
“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,” Kufuor said.
He added, “Sometimes, too, the candidates may have no idea—it may simply be people around them picking on the other candidate.”
Kufuor emphasised that internal competition is healthy for democracy but must be guided by mutual respect and a shared commitment to the party’s vision.
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