Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prioritise competence over identity politics as the party prepares to elect its 2028 flagbearer. 

Speaking at the launch of the party’s new policy think tank, the Patriotic Institute, on Wednesday, 25 June, Mr Kufuor cautioned against allowing tribal or religious sentiments to shape the leadership conversation.

His remarks come in the wake of the party’s recent announcement that it will choose its next presidential candidate on 31 January 2026. 

The declaration has sparked early jostling within the party and, reportedly, some personal attacks on potential aspirants. 

Addressing the situation, the former president reminded party faithful of the values that underpin democracy.

“We are a democratic party and we uphold common humanity.

In a democracy, we don’t go for tribe or religion or gender, but individual,” he said.

Mr Kufuor stressed the importance of selecting a candidate who can resonate with the broader Ghanaian electorate and offer practical solutions to national issues. 

“It is one man, one vote, and if we want power, we have to present a person who will be convincing to the generality of the electorate,” he noted. 

“We need to ask ourselves: will this man we are presenting help solve the problems of the community at large, so the benefits spread across the board?”

He warned that indulging in identity-based rhetoric, especially from within the party, only reinforces negative labels from political opponents. 

“The way we’ve been brushed as a tribal party — and now even religion is being included — if that comes from our mouths, then I tell you, we are the ones perpetuating it,” Kufuor cautioned. 

He urged party members to unite around merit and vision, not division and prejudice, saying, “What we should be doing is finding the way out of the hole, not digging it deeper.”