Politics not theatre of war — Opong-Fosu
A Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Amenfi East, Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has criticised the aggressive posturing in Ghanaian politics.
He said politics was too often treated as theatre of war where insults were mistaken for courage.
“Aggressive posturing does not necessarily demonstrate strength. Sometimes, it merely masks vulnerability and weakness,” he said. Candidature
Speaking at a press conference in Accra last Thursday to declare his intention to contest the National Chairmanship of the NDC, Mr Opong-Fosu said politics must be a path of confidence without arrogance, firmness without belligerence, competition without destruction and debate without denigration.
“Consultation is not weakness, listening is not timidity, consensus building is not indecision. The strongest leader is the one capable of bringing competing interests around the same table,” he said.
Mr Opong-Fosu said internal competition was legitimate, but ultimate loyalty must be to the NDC, not to factions, adding that after every internal election there must be no permanent winners or losers.
He said he will ensure that branches are the heartbeat of the party and empowered beyond election periods with political education, information and tools, while national leadership must listen to the grassroots.
On mobilisation, he said service and sacrifice would not become invisible, as he would ensure fair and transparent systems for recognition and reward beyond government appointments, including opportunities for economic empowerment.
Recounting his appointment as the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) district secretary for Obuasi at age 24 in 1982, he said while many appointees sought personal favours, he presented a proposal for the development of the town to the management of the then Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.
Out of that engagement, he said, came projects such as the Len Clay Stadium, the Obuasi Central Market and the district assembly.
“That has been the tradition, but the request was for a legacy that will endure forever.
That is what service is about,” he stated.
He said the NDC's foundational principles of probity, accountability and social justice were the same as those of the People's Action Party of Singapore, which transformed Singapore from a third world to a first world country.
“If we have the same foundational values, why are we where we are? We must advance those values to make the NDC a gold standard political party for the continent,” he said, urging the party to stop comparing itself to the New Patriotic Party.
Drawing on his experience, he cited his 18 years in local government — 10 years as district secretary and eight years as district chief executive — and his tenure as president of the African Association of Local Authorities, where he united Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone bodies into the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa headquartered in Morocco.
— Graphic Online