Kufuor Warns NPP Against Tribal and Religious Politics Ahead of 2028—And He’s Got a Point
A few years ago, I was at a family funeral in the Eastern Region when a heated debate broke out—not about the deceased (God rest her soul)—but about politics. It started with one guy casually saying, “We’ll never vote for a northerner in this area.” That one line flipped the entire mood. What was meant to be a simple backyard conversation turned into an ugly tribal rant-fest. I just sat there thinking, Is this really how deep the divisions run?
So when I saw former President John Agyekum Kufuor cautioning the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against playing the tribal or religious card ahead of the 2028 elections, I immediately thought, Finally. Someone said it.
Kufuor is no small voice in the room. This is a man who led Ghana through a relatively peaceful, progressive era. Say what you will about his politics, but he’s earned the right to speak—and be listened to. His warning was simple: Don’t gamble the party’s future, or Ghana’s peace, on tribal or religious politics.
Now, let’s be real—he’s not wrong.
We’ve all seen the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) narratives that float around every election year. “This one is from our place.” “That one is a Muslim, so he’ll favor his own.” “The other guy is Akan, so he’ll take care of us.” It’s like people forget we’re all sitting in the same overcrowded trotro of a country, heading toward the same uncertain destination.
In my experience, those lines don’t just divide voters. They poison the entire political conversation. It shifts focus from real issues—like jobs, education, roads, and corruption—to things people have no control over, like their tribe or religion.
And honestly, I’ve noticed that once the tribal card gets played, things get nasty. It creeps into WhatsApp groups. Church pulpits. Mosques. Market stalls. Even school campuses. People start “othering” each other. Suspicion rises. Tension builds. And then suddenly, we’re not arguing over policies anymore—we’re fighting identities.
Kufuor’s warning is a timely one, especially when you consider how emotionally charged the 2024 elections were. If the NPP—or any party, for that matter—chooses to double down on identity politics just to win votes in 2028, they may win the ballot and lose the soul of the nation.
I might be wrong, but it feels like we’re at a crossroads. The youth are tired. They want solutions, not slogans. Many of us are choosing candidates based on competence and track record—not ethnic surnames or religious symbols.
Look, politics is messy. Always has been. But there’s a line we shouldn’t cross. And if anyone knows where that line is, it’s a statesman like Kufuor.
So here’s my question:
In a country as beautifully diverse as Ghana, shouldn’t our strength lie in unity—not division?
And if the NPP, or any party, wants to lead Ghana in 2028, shouldn’t they start by earning everyone’s trust—not just their tribal or religious base?
blogpay
Total Comments: 0