UNDP calls for strengthened internal democracy in African political parties

The Governance and Inclusive Growth Lead of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Dr. Edward Ampratwum, has underscored the urgent need for African political parties to strengthen their internal governance structures as a prerequisite for improving national governance across the continent.

Speaking on Day 2 of the African Political Parties Summit 2025 at the Accra International Conference Centre, Dr. Ampratwum commended organisers for convening the high-level dialogue at a time when global scrutiny of Africa’s democratic systems is intensifying.

“The problem of governance cannot be addressed if governance at the level of political parties is left out of the discussion,” he stressed, adding that party leaders often become national leaders and therefore must embody the values they seek to promote at the state level.

Drawing from a UNDP-authored handbook on political party innovation, Dr. Ampratwum outlined ten key processes for building stable, pragmatic and inclusive political institutions.

He said the handbook, developed from global experiences, offers a roadmap for parties to institutionalise over time, promote inclusive leadership, and strengthen accountability.

Among the innovations highlighted were:

• Multi-party dialogues to foster consensus-building and drive electoral reforms, successfully implemented in countries such as Benin and Guatemala.

• Youth-focused engagement strategies, such as leadership forums and training programmes trialled in Nicaragua, to modernise party structures and ensure young people are not sidelined.

• Gender equity initiatives within parties, citing examples from Kazakhstan and Sudan, to advance women’s political participation beyond the national level.

• Post-conflict party transformation models from Liberia and Mozambique, where former rival factions were restructured into democratic political parties.

  
  

Dr. Ampratwum cited Ghana as a positive example of democratic consolidation, noting the country’s peaceful transfer of power between its two dominant parties.

He attributed this stability to deliberate efforts to strengthen internal party democracy, promote values-based leadership, and develop dispute resolution mechanisms such as Peace Pacts.

“Behind the scenes of every smooth political transition are years of work by institutions committed to building party resilience,” he explained, referencing UNDP’s collaboration with Ghana’s National Peace Council and civil society groups.

Touching on recent instability and abrupt political transitions in parts of Africa, Dr. Ampratwum highlighted UNDP’s African Possibility initiative, which supports inclusive political transitions and leadership development.

He pointed to April 2025’s Executive Leadership Conflict programme in Ghana — an engagement that brought government leaders together to reflect on governance challenges in a changing global context — as an example of capacity-building at the highest level.

Other ongoing interventions include Youth Cafés, which create direct spaces for young people to interact with political leaders, and targeted support to women in Parliament to ensure their active participation in legislative and party processes.

Dr. Ampratwum concluded by urging political parties to:

• Deepen internal democracy and transparent leadership selection processes.

• Foster ideological clarity and evidence-based policymaking.

• Uphold campaign ethics and fair candidate selection.

• Strengthen social engagement with civil society and communities.

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“As the headwinds against democracy continue to rise, our political parties must innovate, adapt, and hold fast to principles that will secure Africa’s democratic future,” he said.

The African Political Parties Summit 2025 continues in Accra with delegates from across the continent exploring pathways to strengthen democratic institutions through party reforms.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith