Stop poisoning Ghana’s airwaves with insults and tribal politics — Opong-Fosu to politicians

National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman hopeful, Dr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has urged political leaders and media commentators to abandon insults, character assassination and ethnic politics, warning that such practices threaten Ghana’s peace and social cohesion.

He made the call while delivering a keynote address as Special Guest at the 2026 Hlefi Traditional Area Yam Festival in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.

The festival, held under the theme “Uniting Citizens for Development”, brought together traditional authorities, political figures and residents to celebrate their cultural heritage and discuss community development.

Dr Opong-Fosu, a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, expressed concern about what he described as the growing normalisation of insults and profane language in Ghana’s media landscape.

He argued that verbal attacks and identity-based politics erode national unity and public trust, warning that development initiatives and economic policies cannot be sustained without social cohesion.

Commending the Paramount Chief of Hlefi, Togbui Adame Danku X, for raising concerns about the decline in national values, Dr Opong-Fosu said his bid for the NDC chairmanship was rooted in the need to restore mutual respect, even among people with opposing views.

He explained that his ambition went beyond winning the party’s internal election, saying he wanted to help build a united and cohesive NDC capable of consolidating its achievements and protecting the legacy of President John Dramani Mahama.

The former Cabinet Minister also pledged to work with the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah, to support efforts to realise the community’s water project.

Dr Opong-Fosu further criticised what he described as the increasing hostility on radio and other media platforms, where he said character assassination and identity politics were sometimes rewarded rather than condemned.

“Look at the history of nations that fell into chaos – it did not start with guns; it started with tongues,” he cautioned.

He warned that sustained verbal aggression within communities could breed hatred, distrust and violence, drawing attention to the history of political instability in several African countries.

“When political actors and social commentators sow verbal aggression into the soul of our communities, we reap harvest fields of hatred, distrust, and violence,” he stated.

According to him, addressing Ghana’s major challenges, including youth unemployment and poor road infrastructure, requires political leaders who can engage constructively without demonising their opponents.

He also called on traditional authorities to take a firmer stand against divisive political rhetoric, urging chiefs to serve as strong custodians of national values rather than treating political provocateurs leniently.

“No political victory, no partisan agenda, and no parliamentary seat is worth sacrificing the peace, the unity, and the future of the Republic of Ghana that we call our home,” he declared.

The festival was chaired by Efo Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, a former Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Chairman of the Gold Board Tribunal.

Other attendees included Togbui Adame Danku X, traditional leaders from across the Volta Region and the Ho West MP, Emmanuel Bedzrah.

The annual Hlefi Yam Festival celebrates the harvest at the end of the farming season while providing a platform for homecoming, cultural preservation and the mobilisation of resources for local development projects.