Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has opened the African Political Parties Summit 2025 in Accra, calling on political parties across the continent to prioritise the needs of their citizens at all times while in power.
Addressing delegates, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the public expects leaders “not to focus on the next elections, but the next generation,” emphasising the need for essential services such as water, electricity, and jobs.
She urged African political parties not to view each other as enemies, noting that the true measure of democracy lies in holding peaceful elections and enabling political rivals to work together for national development.
“Democracy must be adversarial in the market of ideas,” she said.
According to the Vice President, the summit will discuss critical issues, including how ruling parties can ensure peaceful elections in fragile situations.
“…We will not agree on everything, but if we can agree on the fundamental that Africa’s peace is non-negotiable, then we would have taken a major step forward,” she remarked.
The summit is being held under the theme “From Politics to Prosperity: Strengthening Inter-Party Collaboration for Africa’s Development and Economic Transformation.”
Notable participants include NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, who stated that “leadership is not about preventing others from having power, but about supporting the government to deliver on its mandate,” as well as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy Jeff Radebe, Benedicta Lasi, Chair of the Executive Council of the Africa Governance Centre, and representatives from Latin America, including Mexico.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
