Former Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, has appealed to members of the New Patriotic Party to exercise restraint and protect party unity as internal contestations intensify ahead of the party’s flagbearer election.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana with host Moro Awudu, Mr Tetteh said the NPP has a long tradition of internal democracy but warned that the growth of social media has changed the political space and demands greater caution from party members and supporters.
According to him, comments that were once heard by a limited audience now travel widely and instantly, making it necessary for party faithful to be mindful of what they say and where they say it.
He noted that while the heightened public debate is healthy for democracy, careless utterances risk damaging the party’s cohesion.
Mr Tetteh stressed that all aspirants in the ongoing race mean well for the party and for Ghana, adding that the harsh exchanges dominating headlines are mostly coming from supporters rather than the aspirants themselves.
He reiterated a position he has held for years, saying that whoever emerges as the NPP’s flagbearer would be a better president and lead a stronger government than what the country is experiencing today. For that reason, he said, the responsibility of party members does not end with winning the primaries.
“Ghanaians are watching,” he cautioned, adding that unity after the primaries will be crucial if the party is to present a strong front to the electorate.
Mr Tetteh, who is aspiring to become General Secretary of the party, said he has deliberately maintained neutrality in the flagbearer race.
He explained that he believes in the judgment of the party’s delegates and the wider electoral college, noting that more than 210,000 people will eventually decide who leads the party.
He urged supporters of the various aspirants to remember that no single individual can win an election alone, stressing that victory depends on strong party structures across the country’s more than 90,000 communities.
“If your candidate wins, he will need the support of the others and their followers,” he said, adding that unguarded comments today could make reconciliation difficult tomorrow.
The New Patriotic Party is preparing for its flagbearer election scheduled for 31 January 2026, a contest that will determine who leads the party into the 2028 general elections.
