Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cautioned presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against allowing personal ambition to undermine the unity and future of the party, warning that internal divisions could erode public confidence.
Speaking at the peace pact signing ceremony for NPP flagbearer aspirants on Thursday, 22 January 2026, Akufo-Addo reminded party members of the lessons from the NPP’s defeat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections.
“The party that cannot manage victory with humility or defeat with dignity cannot expect to win the confidence of the Ghanaian people,” he said, stressing that a divided party would struggle to appeal to voters.
He urged aspirants and their supporters to conduct themselves with restraint as the January 31 presidential primaries approach, noting that the conduct of politicians is closely scrutinised by the electorate.
“I know the campaign has generated some heat among aspirants and supporters, but the thirst for power and the unity required to win power must combine to motivate us to choose fraternity over factionalism once the primaries are over,” he added.
Describing the peace pact as more than a symbolic exercise, the former president said it represents a binding commitment to uphold party cohesion before and after the primaries.
“This peace pact is not a mere ceremony. It is a solemn covenant that ambition will not override fraternity, that competition will not descend into hostility, and that once the ballot has spoken, the party will move forward as one,” he said.
Akufo-Addo warned that the behaviour of aspirants during the internal contest would have lasting implications for the party and the country, noting that party supporters, grassroots members, and the youth are closely observing developments.
“The NPP is bigger than any individual. No ambition, grievance, or faction is greater than the elephant,” he said, cautioning that leadership contests must not weaken the party’s collective strength.
He emphasised that unity remains central to the party’s electoral prospects, describing it as a “strategic necessity for victory,” and urged aspirants to ensure that the peace pact is respected not only in words but in action.
Calling for decorum in the final days of campaigning, Akufo-Addo appealed to candidates to conduct firm but respectful campaigns, rejecting fear, insults, intimidation, and bitterness.
He also cautioned against prioritising loyalty to individuals over loyalty to the party, insisting that after the primaries, the NPP must move forward with a shared purpose.
“There must be one party, one direction, one destiny,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the party’s future, the former president said he remains confident in the NPP’s ability to reclaim public trust, urging members to keep the party united, disciplined, and worthy of the confidence of Ghanaians.
“If we honour our history, respect one another, and put party and country above self, the future of the NPP and of Ghana will indeed be bright,” he said.
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