Happenings in political parties are important determinants of the health of democracy in any given country, Ghana not being an exception.
It is for good reason that political parties have their peculiar constitutions all of which must be subservient to the Electoral Laws of the country.
Last week one of the two dominant parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took a step towards the next general elections in the country by announcing dates for critical activities on its calendar the biggest being the choice of a flagbearer on 31st January 2026.
As to be expected there have been a few dissentions to the decisions taken but in every grouping especially political parties not everybody would toe the lines of the majority.
When the majority however decides such decisions must be binding on all.
Commenting outside as others have started smacks of mischief. Such do not inure to the good of the party and democracy as a whole.
All political parties must learn to abide by party decisions so that the good health of democracy can be assured.
Avoidable wrangling give democracy a bad name and therefore fit to be hanged. Since this remains the best form of governance all players in our political parties must learn to play decent ball.
The eventual victor in the internal contest to pick a flagbearer should be supported by all to bear the flag successfully.
The noise in the past has been cacophonic and makes us wonder whether those who want to lead must exude such vitriolic and harsh language as they are doing?
Leaders must exude good temperament and command respect devoid of hubris. Those who cannot control their tempers and would jump to the rooftop spewing vitriolic cannot be trusted with the power to declare war or peace as Commanders-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Both two dominant political parties have come such a long way since multiparty democracy replaced military dictatorship that decorum should remain a cornerstone of their activities.
With the NDC now in power having done so through massive propaganda and whose governance template is not only harsh but crude Ghanaians would want to consider an alternative.
The alternative must convince Ghanaians that they are better than those at the helm today and so should be voted for in the next elections.
What better way to do so than good conduct in the management of their electoral processes devoid of rancour and bad blood.
Those who are not chosen as flagbearers should allow the new standards to play out and avoid the threats of walking out as others did in the past.
Political parties can only be built on solid pillars when their constitutions are allowed to stand stoically.
The ‘showdown threats’ are not helpful and must be avoided by all means.
While money can do a lot of things it has its limitations like everything else on earth.
We wish the NPP well as it marches towards electing officers from the grassroots level to the topmost… flagbearer.
