My Political Ambition Can Die, However Ghana Will Have to Upward Rise – Fifi Kwetey

Published: February 18, 2026 | Source: Life Pulse Daily, based on Joy News’ PM Express interview

Introduction: A Stark Choice Between Self and State

In a powerful and introspective television interview, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), presented a profound political dilemma. He declared his personal political ambition secondary to the upward rise of Ghana. This statement, made on Joy News’ PM Express, transcends typical pre-election rhetoric. It is a direct challenge to his own party and the broader political class, arguing that Ghana’s national renewal is inextricably linked to the internal transformation of political parties. Kwetey’s message is clear: the NDC cannot credibly promise to “reset Ghana” while tolerating the same ethical lapses it condemns in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). This article dissects the layers of Kwetey’s assertion, placing it within the context of Ghana’s democratic journey, analyzing its implications for principled politics, and offering a framework for practical political reform.

Key Points: The Core of Kwetey’s Argument

At its heart, Kwetey’s interview articulates several non-negotiable principles for political engagement in Ghana:

• Hypocrisy as a Political Disease: Condemning an opponent for a misconduct while practicing the same is the ultimate hypocrisy, which he states has “no place in principled politics.”
• Internal Reform Precedes External Critique: The NDC’s promise to “reset Ghana” must begin with resetting its own ranks. Slogans are insufficient without internal integrity.
• Values Over Victory: Personal political ambition and the pursuit of power must be subordinate to core party values and the national interest.
• Setting a Generational Example: The party has a duty to the youth to model different, ethical behavior, breaking the cycle of “business as usual.”
• Party Anthem as a Moral Compass: He references the NDC anthem’s call to “place Ghana first” as an existing, sung commitment that must be operationalized in daily conduct.

His willingness to see his own political ambition “die” underscores the gravity with which he views this call for internal party democracy and ethical consistency.

Background: Ghana’s Two-Party Democracy and the Culture of Opposition

The Fourth Republic and the NDC-NPP Dichotomy

Since the inception of Ghana’s Fourth Republic in 1992, the nation’s political landscape has been dominated by two main parties: the social democratic-leaning NDC and the liberal-conservative NPP. Power has alternated between them, creating a robust but often fiercely adversarial system. A defining feature of this competition is the culture of opposition: the party out of power positions itself as the sole alternative, primarily by highlighting the failures, corruption, and missteps of the incumbent.

The “Principled Business Owner” and the Delegate System

Kwetey’s original phrase, “principled business owner,” appears to be a translation nuance, likely meaning “principled politics” or “principled political actor.” His direct audience is the party’s delegates—the individuals who ultimately select flagbearers and candidates through internal elections. The delegate system is a critical, and often criticized, component of Ghanaian party politics. It can incentivize short-term patronage, money politics, and candidate-centered campaigns over long-term ideological purity and collective party strength. Kwetey’s appeal is a direct intervention in this system, urging delegates to prioritize values-based leadership over transactional politics.

Analysis: Deconstructing the “Reset” and the Hypocrisy Charge

“Reset Ghana” vs. “Reset the Party”

The NDC’s 2020 and 2024 campaign themes heavily featured the promise to “Reset Ghana,” implying a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s economic and governance trajectory under the NPP. Kwetey argues this reset is logically impossible without a prior or concurrent reset of the NDC itself. This is a sophisticated critique that moves beyond simple policy debates to the foundational integrity of the messenger. If the party criticizing fiscal irresponsibility has its own financial scandals, or condemns nepotism while practicing it, the entire “reset” narrative is undermined. The analysis suggests that national policy credibility is built upon organizational credibility.

The Accountability Paradox: “To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected”

Kwetey invokes a biblical principle—”to whom much is given, much is expected”—to frame the NDC’s responsibility. As the main opposition with a historical record of governance (1993-2001, 2009-2016), the NDC cannot simply be an anti-NPP protest movement. Its history grants it a platform but also imposes a higher standard. The paradox is that the party’s past experience should make it more accountable, not less. This analysis positions Kwetey’s statement as a call for the NDC to embrace its role as a “government-in-waiting” with a fully developed, ethically consistent alternative platform, not merely a critic.

The Symbolism of the Party Anthem

His reference to the party anthem is potent. Anthems are performative statements of identity. By noting that delegates sing “Ghana First” with pride, Kwetey highlights the gap between symbolic allegiance and practical action. The anthem’s lyrics are a public, collective vow. His argument is that violating that vow internally—through undemocratic candidate selection, corruption, or public disparagement of fellow members—is a breach of that sacred contract. This frames internal party democracy not as a procedural matter but as a moral imperative directly tied to national patriotism.

Practical Advice: Pathways to Principled Politics

Moving from rhetoric to reality requires concrete steps. Kwetey’s call, while moral, necessitates a strategic and operational response from political parties, civil society, and the electorate.

For Political Parties (NDC, NPP, and Others)

• Codify and Enforce Ethical Codes: Develop clear, enforceable codes of conduct for members and candidates, with independent disciplinary committees and transparent sanctions for violations like corruption, hate speech, or electoral malpractice.
• Democratize Candidate Selection: Reform the delegate system to reduce the influence of money and top-down imposition. Consider elements of open primaries or stronger grassroots input to ensure candidates are chosen based on merit, competence, and character.
• Institutionalize Internal Auditing: Implement regular, independent financial and operational audits of party organs, with results made public to build trust.
• Values-Based Training: Institute mandatory training for all aspirants and delegates on the party’s constitution, ideology, and ethical standards, reinforcing that the party is a vehicle for national service, not personal enrichment.

For the Media and Civil Society

• Vet Candidates on Integrity: Move beyond focusing on policy promises to scrutinize candidates’ personal conduct, financial disclosures, and adherence to party ethics.
• Document and Compare: Create public scorecards rating parties not just on policy, but on internal democracy, gender inclusion, youth participation, and handling of internal disputes.
• Amplify Whistleblowers: Provide safe platforms for reporting intra-party malpractices without fear of reprisal.

For the Electorate and Delegates

• Vote/Select on Values: Delegates must explicitly ask: “Does this candidate embody the values we sing about in our anthem? Will they strengthen or weaken our party’s moral authority?”
• Reject the “Both Parties Are the Same” Narrative (Cautiously): While Kwetey admits the NDC is not perfect, voters must still differentiate based on documented records of internal governance and reform efforts. Hold your preferred party to a higher standard.
• Demand Transparency: Consistently demand financial records, meeting minutes, and clear processes from party leadership.

FAQ: Addressing Common Questions

Q1: Is Kwetey’s statement a sign of weakness or a political gimmick?

A: Based on his long tenure in party and government leadership, this is not a sign of weakness. It is a calculated, values-based stance. It reframes the narrative from defensive rebuttal of NPP attacks to proactive, internal soul-searching. Its authenticity will be measured by subsequent actions—whether the NDC under his leadership implements the reforms he implicitly advocates.

Q2: Does this mean the NDC will not criticize the NPP government?

A: No. Kwetey’s point is about the *basis* for criticism. Critique should be rooted in principle, not hypocrisy. An NDC that has reformed its internal processes can credibly criticize the NPP on economic management or corruption, having demonstrated its own commitment to those principles. The criticism gains moral and political weight when the critic holds themselves to the same standard.

Q3: How does this relate to Ghana’s broader democratic health?

A: Strong, internally democratic, and ethical political parties are the bedrock of a resilient democracy. When parties are mere vehicles for patronage, they produce leaders accountable to financiers, not citizens. Kwetey’s argument is that by strengthening the “supply side” of politics—the quality of parties and leaders—Ghana improves the “demand side”—responsive governance and public trust. This is a systemic issue.

Q4: What are the legal implications of such internal calls for reform?

A: Ghana’s Constitution (1992) guarantees freedom of association and expression. Kwetey’s speech, as a party leader discussing internal affairs, is a protected exercise of these rights. There are no direct legal implications unless his calls incite illegal actions or violate specific party constitutional provisions. The primary implications are political and social, relating to party discipline and public perception. The legal framework for political parties is contained in the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), which mandates internal democracy but is often weakly enforced.

Conclusion: The Revolution of Values

Fifi Kwetey’s declaration—”my political ambition can die, however Ghana will have to upward rise”—is more than a dramatic flourish. It is a summation of a profound political philosophy: that the ultimate goal of political activity is national flourishing, not the aggrandizement of individual or factional power. His argument places the internal culture of the NDC at the center of Ghana’s national development discourse. The “reset” he envisions is not a partisan slogan but a moral and operational overhaul. He challenges the party, and by extension all Ghanaian political actors, to align their internal practices with their public pronouncements and anthems. The “revolution” he mentions is not a violent upheaval but a quiet, persistent revolution of values where “Cadres will go, Cadres will come, but the revolution has come to stay.” The staying power of this revolution depends not on any individual’s ambition, but on whether the party institutionalizes the principles he espouses. For Ghana’s democracy to mature, such introspection must become routine, not remarkable. The test is not in the applause for such speeches, but in the ballots cast in party primaries and the integrity maintained in government and opposition alike.