Gallant Cadres urge politicians to uphold integrity and end 'dirty politics' perception

The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have called on politicians to uphold the highest standards of integrity and conduct, saying the persistent perception that politics is a "dirty game" can only be changed through ethical leadership and responsible political behaviour.

In a statement issued on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the group urged both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to work together to reverse the negative image associated with politics and restore public confidence in democratic governance.

According to the Cadres, politics in many African countries has become associated with practices such as gerrymandering, corruption, intimidation and violence, creating the widespread impression that political participation is inherently unethical.

Despite this perception, the group observed that politics continues to attract accomplished professionals from diverse fields.

"Even with this negative slogan, very respectable professionals, including high ranking lawyers, doctors, engineers, academics, and security personnel, continue to leave their revered professions to enter politics," the statement said.

The Cadres therefore questioned whether politics truly deserves to be described as a "dirty game."

The statement also expressed concern over the conduct of ongoing polling station elections within both the NDC and the NPP, alleging that the internal electoral processes have been characterised by serious manipulations that reinforce negative public perceptions about politics.

The Gallant Cadres urged politicians across the political divide to reject arrogance, corruption and dishonesty and instead embrace integrity, transparency and accountability in public service.

They maintained that changing public attitudes towards politics would require political leaders to demonstrate through their actions that public office is a platform for service rather than personal gain.

The group concluded that restoring the dignity of politics is a shared responsibility and called on all political actors to contribute to building a political culture founded on honesty, fairness and respect for democratic values.

The full statement is reproduced below.
To All Media Houses
The Gallant Cadres of NDC
Why Should Politics Be "A Dirty Game"? : It Rapes All Spheres Of Development - The Gallant Cadres of NDC

The slogan for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Latin is (Citius, Altius, Fortius -Communiter) and translated into English as “Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together” emphasizing unity, excellence and global friendship. All other sports and games aim at fairplay, hardwork, sportmanship and integrity as expected outcmes.

Surprisingly however, Politics is the only game described negatively as a ‘DIRTY GAME”. This has unfortunately become an “acceptable” slogan due to “unacceptable” political orchestrations. A dirty game of course.

Strangely, even with this negativity of a slogan, very recpectable professionals leave their revered professions to become politicians. We know of high ranking lawyers, doctors, engineers, academicians, security men and others deserting their professions to play the “dirty game” of politics. Is politics really a dirty game?

A school of thought thinks Politics is often called dirty not because it is inherently bad but because of how it is sometimes practised in reality. They think the phrase only reflects public frustration with certain misbehaviours that occur in political competition.

They think politics is called a DIRTY GAME because of the unethical behaviours some people display while seeking power. Some politicians spread false information, practice character attacks, do smear campaigns, engage in unnecessary exaggeratons or propaganada to gain support or damage opponents, dishonestly and intentionally gaining unfair advantage.

Others think politics becomes dirty when political leaders misuse public funds or power for personal enrichment leading to scandals which reinforces the thoughts of corruption and thievery.

The citizenry will see politics as “dirty” when poiticians look on for people to die in their numbers due to floods after heavy rains when monies allocated to help solve inherent problems are not found.

When blame is shifted onto people in authority for complete inaction or neglect leading to grave national disaster as happened last Monday due to rainfall, they will refer to politics as a dirty game.

Some politicians are also accused of making unrealistic promises during political campaigns and fail to fulfil them after gaining power. How can the promise of the operation of a skytrain in Ghana be made on a political platform, leading to the loss of millions of dollars to the state. This leads to cynicism among the populace especially when there are political lawyers ready to use technical aspects of inefficiencies in the law to defend glaring corruption and outright thievery.

We know of some political individuals or groups that influence political decisions through the use of ‘big funding and extraordinary monetary machinations’ making the “game” biased and unfair. The grassroots are getting impatient with politicians for shirking their responsibilities, embezzling funds meant for development and living comfortably with their families at their expense.

Politics can also become dirty when politicians divide people along ethnic, religious and party lines in competitive environments. This leads to hostility and tension.

The most common and very serious of all the ills that make politics really very dirty is when the whole electoral system is manipulated intentionally by strong “evil” forces to turn genuine outcomes in the favour of dear ones and CAMP MATES with the full collaboration of executives “above”.

Party executives, who are supposed to act rightlfully and with integrity are used to orchestrate funny results and outcomes with the manipulation of figures to favour their “chosen ones”.

We have already picked signals of serious manipulations in the ongoing branch and polling station elections of the ruling NDC and the opposition NPP respectively. There are issues of some MPs finding every possible means to maintain “old executives” to deny new members the opportunities to contest for positions. Other MPs are said to be paying registration and filing fees for all “old” branch executives and polling station executives with the excuse that they are the “poor grassroots” and the footsoldiers. The reasons for such actions are very obvious.

There are Regional Executives who willingly and unashamedly connive with some Members of Parliament and some Constituency Executives to skew results in their favour.

Politics has its very positive sides as it helps us to organize society, allows citizens to choose leaders of their choice democratically who help bring development and good governance.

We the GALLANT CADRES OF NDC think there is a need for politicians to come together to purge politics of this derogatory slogan or tag.

THE GALLANT CADRES OF NDC are concerned because we are all active practitioners of the game. Should we allow the citizenry, the grassroots and the footsoldiers to continue to see politics as dirty? What should be done to restore the hope, trust and dignity of the game?

THE GALLANT CADRES OF NDC think this can only be achieved when “crooked” politicians change their attitudes. After all, MONEY and POSITION are not all we need in this world.

Once, as religious and moral beings, we believe there is life after this world, We should imbibe integrity, positive values and fairplay.

Politicians should eschew arrogance, corruption and thievery. As for the tag “dirty game”, we should all help to purge the political system of it and make it a clean game. We can do it together.

Comrade Richard E A Sarpong, Father Casford. The PRO

Ohemaa Akosua Borngreat, Deputy PRO
Mr F Kadan, Secretary

   Comments0