Professor Ransford Gyampo, a prominent political scientist and Acting CEO of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, has issued a stark warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP): return to your core values or risk fading into irrelevance. Gyampo argues that the party has lost its way, abandoning its foundational principles and traditions under its current leadership. He believes the NPP’s pursuit of power has led to a compromise of its original identity, resulting in a disconnect with the public and a decline in its reputation. The party’s current trajectory, he contends, is unsustainable and requires a significant course correction if it hopes to regain public trust and remain a viable political force.
Gyampo’s critique centers on what he perceives as a fundamental shift in the NPP’s character. He laments the decline of intellectual discourse and constructive debate within the party, replaced by a culture of personal attacks and social media vitriol. He contrasts this with the NPP’s historical emphasis on reasoned argument and intellectual engagement, characterizing the current environment as a betrayal of the party’s intellectual heritage. The reliance on “small boys” on social media to launch personal attacks, he argues, is not only undignified but also counterproductive, undermining the party’s credibility and alienating potential supporters.
The professor draws a sharp distinction between the NPP’s current leadership and the party’s founding fathers. He recalls his interactions with figures like B.J. Da Rocha and Haruna Esseku, portraying them as principled leaders who prioritized intellectual rigor and respectful debate. These individuals, he suggests, embodied the true spirit of the NPP, fostering an environment of learning and constructive dialogue. Their leadership style, he implies, stands in stark contrast to the current leadership’s approach, which he views as prioritizing personal attacks and online mudslinging over substantive policy discussions.
Gyampo’s call for a return to the NPP’s roots is not merely a nostalgic plea for a bygone era. He argues that the party’s current trajectory is a strategic blunder, alienating voters and undermining its long-term viability. He suggests that the NPP’s embrace of populist tactics and social media warfare may yield short-term gains but will ultimately erode the party’s intellectual foundation and damage its reputation. The party’s survival, he implies, depends on its ability to reclaim its intellectual heritage and engage in a more thoughtful and respectful political discourse.
The professor’s criticism extends to the type of individuals the NPP has recruited into leadership positions. He argues that the current leadership lacks the intellectual depth and commitment to principle that characterized the party’s founding generation. This, he believes, has contributed to the decline in the quality of debate and the rise of personal attacks within the party. He implies that the NPP needs to prioritize attracting individuals with a strong intellectual foundation and a commitment to the party’s core values if it hopes to regain its former stature.
Ultimately, Gyampo’s message to the NPP is one of urgent self-reflection and reform. He argues that the party must rediscover its foundational principles and return to its roots if it wants to be taken seriously again. This involves not only a change in leadership style but also a shift in the party’s overall culture, prioritizing intellectual discourse, constructive debate, and respectful engagement over personal attacks and social media warfare. He believes that only through such a transformation can the NPP hope to regain public trust and reclaim its position as a leading force in Ghanaian politics.
