‘Don’t lower the bar’ — Tsatsu Tsikata warns NDC on governance

Legal practitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata

Legal practitioner Tsatsu Tsikata has urged the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to resist complacency in government and use the commemoration of former President Jerry John Rawlings’ 79th birthday as an opportunity for deep reflection on the party’s future direction and governance standards.

Speaking on Monday, June 22, 2026, Mr Tsikata said the NDC must critically examine its message, values, and long term political proposition to the country and the wider world, cautioning against lowering expectations simply because the party is in power.

“I want to insist from the onset that the NDC must use its commemoration to reflect on its future, message and value proposition. What does the NDC have to offer to the nation and to the world at large from now and the future,” he said.

He warned that there is a risk of reduced governance standards if the party begins to measure its performance only against previous administrations rather than higher national expectations.

“There is a danger that we lower the bar of what the nation expects from us in the NDC and that we aim to just a little better than the previous government,” he said.

Tsikata referenced what he described as a difficult period in Ghana’s recent governance history, urging the party not to allow that context to become its benchmark for performance.

“There is a danger, especially after what the country went through in the disastrous period of 2017 to 2024 under President Akufo Addo and Dr Bawumia,” he said.

He cautioned that such an approach could encourage complacency among public officials, who may settle for marginal improvements instead of pursuing transformative governance.

“Appointees would only seek to compare themselves to their predecessors and by that measure be content with some improvement in performance and therefore become complacent,” he said.

Mr Tsikata further argued that this mindset would be a disservice to both citizens and the governing party.

“May I say without hesitation that this will be both an affront to the people of Ghana as well as an affront to the NDC,” he said.

His comments come as the NDC marks the 79th birthday commemoration of its founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, an occasion often used by party members to reflect on his legacy and ideological direction.