New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has bemoaned the growing monetisation of Ghanaian politics, warning that it has eroded the values of sacrifice and service that once defined the country’s political tradition.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, he said the nation must uproot this practice if it is to make progress.
“The fact that the country has been gripped by materialism worries me, and the monetisation of our politics, especially our UP tradition, Adu Boahen’s tradition, Da Rocha’s tradition, R.R. Amposah’s tradition and many others who put their lives, their houses, their everything—Stephen Krakue, J. A. Addison and the rest. Otherwise, we would have said that Addison would have won in 1992 because he was a big businessman. But Adu Boahen, the university lecturer, won because people believed in his drive, his vision, what he wanted to do for our country. So it’s never been about money.”
He expressed concern that money, rather than integrity and service, now defines politics in Ghana.
“I’m worried that we are allowing money to rule us in this country, and hopefully if I become President, I’ll restore those values of service, sacrifice and selflessness to the party and to society in general.”
Agyepong lamented what he described as the disappearance of the volunteer spirit that animated the party’s early years.
“That spirit of volunteerism, sacrifice, fellow feeling—all for one, one for all—has virtually disappeared, to the extent that people are not prepared to work for the party with the kind of gusto we saw when we were young. You put in a lot and you don’t expect anything in return.”
He called for politics to return to a place of integrity, stressing the need for a “new dawn, a new direction, a new Ghanaian led by a new politician.”
“When you look at all the surveys, politicians are at the rock bottom because of some of the things they have seen from us. So we have to lead by changing the narrative.”
Pointing to his own record in public office, Agyepong recalled his service as Press Secretary to President Kufuor.
“I did not abuse my position. I did not rack up real estate. I did not go after state property. And I think you can serve your country and have a sense of fulfilment without being marvelously rich.”
He added that contentment, not money, should define leadership.
“Absolutely vital that we do that for the younger generation to learn something and be able to admire and say, look, I want to become a politician, because you can have a fulfilled life without being fabulously rich anyway. When you grow up like I am now, you realise you don’t need that much money. Money is important, but I think it’s not the overriding factor to make you happy. So that spirit of contentment that is missing is divine.”
Source: Abubakar Ibrahim
ALSO READ:
