Aspiring presidential candidate in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has called for a change in the orientation of citizens.
The former NPP General Secretary stated that the central focus of his campaign is to push for a shift in the national mindset.
He expressed his observation that the nation is losing its way, with citizens no longer proud to be Ghanaians or willing to be selfless, patriotic, and nationalistic. He stated the need to usher in a new era where citizens would take pride in their Ghanaian identity.
Focusing on his campaign’s theme, Mr. Agyepong emphasised the importance of returning to the nation’s roots and encouraging people to develop a spirit of sacrifice, love, unity, hard work, respect, and teamwork, values which he lamented are gradually diminishing within the political landscape.
“We need a new orientation as Ghanaians. I can confidently state that we are losing our nation. Ghanaians are no longer proud of being citizens. We need to usher in a new dawn, a new era, and a new dimension. We need to go back to our roots and encourage people to be selfless, respectful, and live in unity. We are losing these values in our political space, and it is not healthy for our democracy. As political leaders, we have to speak up on these issues. I want to use my campaign to prick the conscience of Ghanaians. We should let them know that public service is about service to the public. We should also understand that politics and the existence of party politics are meant to serve the country. That should be the focus of public service. That is my focus.”
He also expressed worry over what he described as the “monetisation of elections,” where delegates or political parties make monetary demands of aspiring candidates before voting for them. He lamented that such demands breed corruption and warned that if not addressed, they could destroy the nation’s democracy. He advised political parties to develop strategies to address these challenges.
He added that, “We need leaders with integrity, and if we don’t take care as a country, we may push the country into dangerous territory. We have monetized our elections. A country that worships money over integrity is troubling. It is disturbing that we have to share fridges, televisions, money, and other valuables with people before they vote. It is troubling, and that was why I proposed to the party to expand the NPP’s electoral college to curb this challenge, but some people disagreed with me.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
