Speaking on JoyNews’ Talk No Dey Cook Rice podcast, she argued that leaders must stop pandering to populism and instead make bold, forward-looking decisions that secure the future.

“It seems as though we’re constantly chasing elections, and populism is becoming central to everything. We’re not paying enough attention to what is right—not just for today, but for tomorrow, and for generations yet unborn,” she said.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that good governance must go beyond free and fair elections.

“What are you doing for the people? Are you delivering on time? Are you respecting citizens’ dignity? Are working conditions decent? Governance is about substance, not just ballots.”

She also called out double standards in accountability and law enforcement, questioning why ordinary citizens face swift punishment while politicians and public officials escape responsibility for larger failures.

“A trader can go to jail for damaging part of an overpass, but can we apply the same standard to politicians who misuse funds and leave roads undone? They walk free while citizens suffer.”

The MP lamented that young people feel excluded from policymaking, often treated as passive recipients of programmes rather than active participants.

“Too many young people feel ignored. Policies are designed for them without asking what they really want. That disconnect fuels apathy and weakens civic engagement.”

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings warned that Ghana risks falling behind if leaders continue to lower standards for political convenience. She cited Rwanda, Malaysia, and Singapore as examples of countries that achieved progress through strict but effective governance.

“In Rwanda, there is zero tolerance for littering or selling in unauthorized spaces. In Singapore, even chewing gum is banned. These may seem tough, but that’s what it took to build discipline and progress. Are we prepared to do the same?”

She concluded that Ghana must embrace leadership that is ready to take tough but necessary decisions to raise accountability and restore trust.

“We can’t keep lowering the bar because of politics. At some point, we must draw the line and do what is right for the people of Ghana.”

source: myjoyonline

The campaign team of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President and leading contender for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2026 flagbearership, says Ghana’s electoral history shows that consistency and persistence at the polls often lead to victory.

Speaking in a statement issued on Friday, August 29, campaign spokesperson Dennis Miracles Aboagye stressed that candidates who return to the ballot after setbacks are more likely to succeed in the long run.

“Elections in Ghana favour consistent and repeated candidates. That’s fact and not assumption,” Mr. Aboagye said.

He pointed to historical precedents, highlighting how former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo both faced early defeats—sometimes recording zero constituencies in certain regions—yet were maintained by the NPP and eventually won power.

“Both President Kufuor and President Akufo-Addo were repeated by the party simply because our country’s socio-political environment favours consistency,” he explained.

Bawumia’s 2024 Loss as a Stepping Stone

According to Mr. Aboagye, Dr. Bawumia’s defeat in the 2024 general elections should be seen as a strengthening factor rather than a setback.

“Every indication points to the fact that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, losing 2024 elections also reinforces him and makes him the most likely person to win the next elections,” he noted.

He emphasized that despite facing a difficult campaign, Dr. Bawumia secured over 41% of the votes, which demonstrates a solid support base that can be expanded with improved strategies.

Call for Stability in the NPP

Mr. Aboagye cautioned against changing candidates at this stage, arguing that such a move could disrupt the party’s momentum.

“The most strategic thing to do would be to hold onto the person, work to consolidate the 41% while you tweak your strategies to attract the extra 9%,” he said.

Focus on Issues, Not Insults

He further assured supporters that Dr. Bawumia’s campaign is shifting focus to substantive national issues rather than engaging in personal attacks.

“Finally, Dr. Bawumia is shifting the campaigns back to the real issues away from insults and name-calling. Let’s keep it up, Patriots,” Mr. Aboagye concluded.

source: myjoyonline

Speaking at the 2025 African Political Parties Summit in Accra, Mr. Nketiah cautioned that the growing trend of chasing short-term electoral gains at the expense of effective governance is eroding public confidence and stalling Africa’s progress.

“When politics becomes transactional, institutions collapse. When leaders abandon the long-term view, the people’s trust disappears,” he stated.

He challenged parties across the continent to reimagine their role—not simply as “election-winning machines” but as engines of development and transformation.

“Political parties must evolve into enduring institutions that channel competition into constructive governance, provide the intellectual and policy frameworks for economic transformation, and embody the discipline, vision, and moral leadership necessary for national progress,” he emphasized.

source: myjoyonline

Samuel Koku Anyidoho, Founder and CEO of the Mills Institute for Transformational Leadership Development, has been officially certified as an International Elections Observer and Elections Analyst by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).

The certification followed a one-week intensive training programme held from August 11–14, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the auspices of ECOWAS.

The session brought together 14 carefully selected participants from across the ECOWAS subregion, including representatives from Ghana (3), Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. The training focused on election management, monitoring, and analysis.

With over five years of experience as an ECOWAS election observer, Anyidoho has monitored polls in Guinea Conakry, Benin, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Senegal. This accreditation further strengthens his role in promoting democratic governance and credible elections across Africa.

About EISA
EISA, headquartered in Johannesburg and Abidjan, was founded to support democratic transitions in post-apartheid South Africa, initially focusing on conflict monitoring and electoral mediation. Today, its mandate covers election management, democracy support, and governance across the continent.

Political Career and Legacy Work
Anyidoho’s political journey began when President John Atta Mills appointed him as Head of Communications (2009–2012). He later served as Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from 2014 to 2018. A staunch advocate of President Mills’ vision, he established the Atta Mills Institute to promote good governance and transformational leadership.

Koku Anyidoho’s Political Journey and Contributions

In 2023, he earned a Master’s degree in Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, describing himself as a “Theologian with degrees” who believes spiritual values are essential to nation-building—an outlook inspired by Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Expanding into Professional Counseling
In addition to his political and leadership work, Anyidoho was recently inducted into the Ghana Psychology Council as a professional counselor, further cementing his commitment to ethical leadership and transformational public service.

source: myjoyonline