With the NPP’s primary scheduled for January 31, I, as an American citizen, am here to explain why voters should approach the activist candidate with caution.
By “activist candidate,” I mean someone who is highly critical of a party from outside its established leadership.
This is not to suggest that party insiders cannot critique their own party, but an activist candidate is distinctive in their ability to challenge and reshape a party’s core values from the outside, often creating tension between long-standing members and newcomers.
Such dynamics can be destabilising—just look at President Donald Trump in the U.S.
President Trump’s first term witnessed a separation between Trump loyalists and established, less controversial Republicans, which has only been exacerbated in his current second term.
President Trump was a generally known figure before he first entered the presidential race in 2015.
And he was a controversial figure even before he became a familiar face to TV news stations, and he continues to push his controversial reputation to new heights, as we’ve seen with the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Minneapolis, Minnesota, my home state in the U.S.
The two frontrunners for the NPP’s flagbearership race, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, are both established NPP members, but differ in their engagement with their supporters, opposition members and the general public.
Dr Bawumia has seen much of Ghana’s political life, having already spent time as vice president, but now seeking the role of president. To an American voter, Dr Bawumia’s establishment status would put him at a disadvantage, since American voters love political outsiders rather than established members, hence President Trump’s two terms in office.
However, established members are more important than we give them credit for.
They’re safe, and Dr Bawumia’s New Year video message was one of thoughtfulness and dependability.
He said, “When institutions are weakened, democracy weakens.”
Mr Agyapong, known for his fiery temperament and outspoken style, doesn’t exactly fit the definition of a party activist, given his long tenure in parliament and previous bids to be the NPP’s flag bearer.
Nonetheless, his attitude remains a cause for concern to me. Also in his New Year video message, Dr Bawumia made a comment that almost directly pointed at his opponent. He said, “…history will judge us, not by how loudly we speak, but by how wisely we choose.”
Mr Agyapong may not be on par with President Trump’s controversial antics; however, any candidate deemed controversial in any organised political system concerns me, whether it be former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the UK or the AfD in Germany.
When a candidate for political office disrupts decorum yet gains the public’s support, when institutions are threatened, there is cause for concern.
I realise that this article might come across as a total disdain for party activists, and I’d like to be clear, it’s not.
I think party activists are capable of doing a lot of good.
They can push their party towards much-needed reforms, revitalise an ageing party to new youthful standards and bring important issues to the attention of party leadership.
But what Ghanaians should be wary of is a candidate who splits their party, who upsets established ttunity.
The most important aspect of any political party is unity, which is something that the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties are currently struggling with.
This isn’t completely President Trump’s fault; it’s a greater party problem, but President Trump began the separation and splitting of the Republican party, which has led it to its current dysfunction and the U.S.’s general political turmoil.
I would hate to see something similar happen in Ghana.
I want to implore Ghanaian voters to be wary of activist-type candidates.
There are risks when candidates are too critical, too controversial and with too much disruption.
If Ghanaians feel like they can keep Mr Agyapong in check and feel that he is the best person to be the NPP’s flag bearer, then offer him your support.
I’m sure the delegates and Ghanaian voters know more than I do.
Maybe he will offer more radical change.
But the U.S. has not kept its activist candidate and president in check, and we are suffering the consequences.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
