"Expect us not to focus on next elections but next generation" – Vice President Prof. Jane Opoku-Agyemang

Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged African political parties to prioritize the welfare of their people over partisan advantage, stressing the need to focus on long-term development rather than short-term electoral gains.

Speaking at the opening of the African Political Parties Summit 2025 in Accra, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said, “Our people expect us not to focus on the next elections but the next generation.” 

She noted that citizens across the continent need tangible improvements in their lives, including access to water, electricity, and other basic necessities.

Appealing for unity, she encouraged political parties not to view each other as enemies, but as partners in national development, emphasizing that the true measure of democracy lies in peaceful elections and the ability of rivals to collaborate for progress.

“Democracy must be adversarial in the market of ideas,” she remarked, adding that the summit will address critical issues such as ensuring peaceful elections in fragile contexts.

"We will not agree on everything, but if we can agree on the fundamental that Africa’s peace is non-negotiable, then we would have taken the best step forward,” she said.

The summit, themed “From Politics to Prosperity: Strengthening Inter-Party Collaboration for Africa’s Development and Economic Transformation,” brought together political leaders from across the continent.

Among them was the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Fifi Kwetey, who noted that leadership should not be about preventing others from gaining power but about supporting the government to deliver on its mandate.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith