Former Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against promoting the notion that the party’s presidential candidate must always come from the Akan ethnic group.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, the veteran lawmaker described such sentiments as divisive and dangerous to the unity and future of the party.
“Some people even say that because the party’s support base is Akan, we should fill it with an Akan [person]. To me, that is the most dangerous statement,” he warned.
He questioned the logic behind those advocating for an Akan-only leadership, emphasising that such thinking alienates other groups within the party, especially those in the northern and Muslim communities.
“If you insist on always having an Akan as your presidential candidate, those who are making those statements, can you go to the Muslim communities in the North to campaign? When you think that they don’t deserve to lead the party?” he asked.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stressed that the NPP, as a national political organisation, must reflect inclusivity and fairness in its leadership choices to sustain its appeal across Ghana’s diverse ethnic and religious lines.
“That is why I’m saying that that is a very dangerous statement and should not be encouraged at all,” he reiterated.
The Suame MP’s comments come amid ongoing debates within the party about ethnic representation and leadership succession as the NPP prepares for future elections.
He urged party members to focus on competence, integrity, and the ability to unite the party and the nation, rather than ethnic considerations, when choosing future leaders.
