Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on African political parties to focus on delivering prosperity rather than merely seeking political power.
Addressing the inaugural African Political Parties Summit in Accra, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said politics that did not pursue the wellbeing of citizens “is empty,” and urged parties to prioritise national interest and long-term development.
“Our people do not ask us to perform politics for their own sake. They deserve politics that translates into food security, decent jobs, functional schools, accessible healthcare, efficient infrastructure, security and justice,” she stated.
“They expect us to focus not just on the next election but more importantly on the next generation,” she added.
The three-day summit is being held under the theme “From Politics to Prosperity: Strengthening Inter-Party Collaboration for Africa’s Development and Economic Transformation.”
It brought together over 160 delegates from across Africa, and served as a platform for dialogue, consensus-building, and inter-party cooperation aimed at strengthening democratic governance and catalysing economic transformation.
A 2024 Afrobarometer Report revealed that 66 per cent of Africans preferred democracy, with majorities rejecting one-man rule (80%), one-party rule (78%), and military rule (66%).
However, 53 per cent were willing to accept military intervention if elected leaders abused power, and support for elections declined by eight per cent across 30 countries.
Mr Jeff Radebe, Special Envoy of the President of South Africa, expressed concern over declining trust in political parties, stating: “If our politics does not lead to prosperity, then it is nothing more than destruction.”
He emphasised that national strength depended on governance quality rather than resource abundance, and criticised the prioritisation of personal and party ambitions.
“The citizens of Africa that we serve do not need manifestos. They cannot build their futures on political promises that dissolve after elections,” Mr Radebe said.
Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, noted growing disillusionment among African youth and called for structural reforms within political parties.
He said Africa’s capacity “is far enormous than our challenges” and urged participants to explore ways of using political parties to fulfil public aspirations.
The summit will also witness the adoption of the implementation framework of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), a flagship platform for sustained inter-party engagement and capacity development
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