Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has called on New Patriotic Party (NPP) members to remain steadfast in their commitment to the party’s values and ideals, rather than focusing on personal gain.
Speaking at the launch of the Patriotic Institute in Accra, Mr Afenyo-Markin described the initiative as a bold step toward ideological renewal, leadership training, and a reaffirmation of the NPP’s historic foundations.
“Today marks a new chapter in the intellectual and ideological life of the New Patriotic Party, a true call for loyalty,” he said.
“It is the clearest institutional expression of our party’s enduring belief in development in freedom, principled leadership, and the continuous renewal of the values that have shaped the NPP since its birth,” he added.
The Effutu MP recounted personal stories from his childhood, referencing how members of his family suffered professional setbacks and personal hardships in the 1980s and 1990s due to their political allegiance to the NPP.
He spoke of his mother losing her job for refusing to align with the Thirty-First December Women’s Movement, his stepfather being demoted for his political beliefs, and his father’s forced exile following vocal criticism of the June 4 regime.
“This is what standing for the NPP meant in practical terms, not just political rhetoric, but empty plates, unpaid school fees, scattered families, and dreams deferred,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said. “Yet my parents never wavered. They understood something we may have forgotten: our individual grievances pale in comparison to the collective good we serve.”
He cautioned against treating political office as a reward and argued that many elected officials enter Parliament with little grasp of the values they are expected to represent. “Too often, political office is treated as a reward. As a result, some MPs take their seats with little knowledge of the values they are supposed to represent. The Patriotic Institute must change that,” he said.
The launch drew participation from top party figures, including Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Party Chairman Stephen Ntim, members of the Council of Elders, and former Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also addressed the growing tensions on social media, urging party youth to engage in respectful debate and avoid targeting elders with online attacks. He said the new institute provides an opportunity for the NPP to reorganise and strategise for the future.
“The elephant is mighty. Though it may stumble, it does not fall forever. We shall rise again, with clarity and a better strategy,” he said.
The Patriotic Institute is set to function as the NPP’s ideological and training arm, offering courses in political thought, leadership, governance, and public communication.
It is envisioned as a long-term platform to equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills needed for effective public service, according to the party.
