Stop fueling tribal and religious divisions – warns NPP

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has sounded a strong warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over growing incidents of tribal and religious bigotry within the party, especially as internal campaigns heat up ahead of the 2028 flagbearer race.

Speaking at the inauguration of the NPP’s ideological institute on Wednesday, June 25, Kufuor expressed deep concern about divisive rhetoric being used by some party members, cautioning that such utterances reinforce long-standing accusations that the NPP is tribal in nature.

“We’ve always been accused of being a tribal party,” he said. “Now if we ourselves start bringing in religion and tribal sentiments, we’re simply proving our critics right. We’re supposed to be democratic and uphold the dignity of every individual.”

He emphasized that democratic values focus on the individual—not tribe, religion, or gender—and called on the party to unite behind a candidate capable of addressing national issues for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

“Our focus should be on selecting someone who can solve problems that affect the entire nation. That’s how we convince the electorate,” Kufuor noted, drawing applause from attendees.

He stressed that if party members continue using divisive language, they risk undermining the NPP’s image as a national political force.

“If we continue along this path, we’re just reinforcing the labels that opponents have used against us for decades,” he warned. “We need to rise above this and get out of the rat hole.”