Over the years, our learning, activism and experience working towards the success of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have shaped our beliefs and guided our actions.
Our inspiration has come from the dedication of many before us, whom we never had the privilege of meeting, and from those whom we had the privilege to encounter or, in some cases, interact with and learn from.
Despite the dedication of their resources to crucial financing of our political tradition at various points in our history, which we still do not know about, and the commitment of their lives, which they put on the line for our survival and progress as a nation and a party, their first source of inspiration was their desire to help make our lives into the future as a nation better.
It was not a selfish aspiration to rule us or for us to be at their beck and call. They served with respect for all. Have we become so crass as to think that those contributions did not matter?!?
The pacesetters and pathfinders and carvers of our destiny of hope and prosperity went ahead to work for us, not knowing who they did it for personally.
These are people who did not even know or worry that my contemporaries and I, and those after us, would know about them or benefit from their sacrifice and initiative.
Today we, members of the NPP and all Ghanaians, are the beneficiaries of their work. Today we have a nation to work. We have a nation to develop and grow. We have a party to support, strengthen and empower to achieve our nation-building desires. All thanks to their efforts.
Points of principle
In our history as a nation, regardless of philosophical affiliation, the names we recall and hold in high esteem as our strongmen, known for their work for freedom, justice and development, are not the people who splurged money (and there are many who did so selflessly).
It is the philosophically astute, principled activists we recall as great names and achievers.
Here I mention those I can recall – Joe Appiah, K A Gbedemah, Imoro Ayarna, E V C de Graft Johnson, Mark Diamond Addy, Dr Bilson and even the outliers who we might wish had never featured but did not say wrong things, such as Blay Miezah. Blay Miezah, a self-proclaimed millionaire whose wealth was questionable, did not claim his political worth in currency. He sought a respected philosophical political space for credibility.
In our tradition, proudly named UP (United Party), there were the many great names – Obetsebi Lamptey (the Elder), Saki Scheck, Quarshie, Nancy Tsiboe, J H Mensah, B J da Rocha and a host of others – whom we shall recall from time to time to remind us of our credible roots in the NPP.
Hawa Yakubu, Gladys Asmah, Teresa Tagoe, Florence Sai and other women have led in the political battles and wars for freedom and justice, for growth and development, not just for women but for all. All in their own way did what they could and never over-bloated their contribution in any way. These were women of steel and mettle whom we, as young men and women, sought to emulate.
Focus beyond fame
Our tradition’s principles and values were the first source of inspiration for them. They did not claim finance of or for the party, or NPP members, as their right to authority.
Some strong men like Nii Ayitey Boafo, K G Osei-Bonsu and others are still around and, but for the “sharp teeth” of our party, would be in the forefront of advisory and direction today.
When we moved to the battle front after coming of age the names who stood firm in service whom we seem to forget today were many.
We listened to them and learned from them: Asante Antwi the defiant Methodist pastor, Antwi Agyei, whose sacrifice from his years as a young adult through to his very old age, and many others like them, who did not seek fame from the power and influence they wielded, have helped cast the mould which makes us NPP.
There are many on-the-ground powerhouses whose work and commitment must never be belittled because of money. One name that comes to mind is Azola of Okaikoi South. Money was not their source of commitment.
There are respected, renowned names who made great financial contributions in cash and kind – Paa Grant and J M Addo come to mind – but were not known as braggarts of their wealth or influence. If they were tested, their humility would still hold world record standards.
Our party, the NPP, is a party grounded in every way. Our grounding is the reason we have survived in spite of the highs and lows of our past.
There is a reason J B Danquah, a penniless man at the time of his death – and not because of ineptitude – was our first presidential candidate.
Kofi Busia was not a multimillionaire but a man of principle with a long-standing record of governance, social and political experience and achievement. He was not chosen for his financial contribution.
Neither William Ofori-Atta nor Victor Owusu, in the days of our division, was chosen by our tradition for his money, but for the strength of their commitment to Ghana and the depth of their philosophy. Adu Boahen, Kufuor and Akufo-Addo were amidst many equally worthy men when they were chosen for the same reasons.
Acts of betrayal
None of these people spoke outside the needs of our core constituency in the NPP – business, trade, industry, the youth, women, religion, traditional authority. They all spoke for and of hope and prosperity for ALL!
Today we seem to want to poopoo that principle for money! For self-servitude. Monetisation is the claim to credibility for authority?! A sacrilege against the party by all standards!
We cannot measure and create our parameters for leadership with unworthy, unprincipled positions. Betrayals for self-interest must be exposed. The party must be very careful going forward about its decisions.
Delegates, who have the privilege of a vote to choose who should lead, must not lose sight of this in their decision-making. Ghanaians – business and all – will repulse a poor choice.
The New Patriotic Party must live up to and exhibit its worth into posterity. Those with power to lead the way must maintain and sustain our values and principles in their choices.
They must always remember that their vote is for nation-building. Do not lose track of the essence of our tradition. It would be sacrilege to do otherwise.
Simply put, our political tradition is not for sale.
Nana Fredua-Agyeman Ofori-Atta
The writer is the convenor of Conservatives Quarterly
