'It shouldn't be full hatred' – Fritz Baffour on Ghana's politics

Political stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fritz Baffour, has cautioned Ghana’s political actors against the growing trend of demonising opponents.

He has warned that excessive hostility and political witch-hunting could undermine national cohesion and democratic stability.

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Speaking on the state of Ghana’s politics in an interview on January 16, 2026, Baffour recalled the early years of the Fourth Republic, noting that the transfer of power in 2000 was marked by deep political antagonism.

According to him, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) assumption of office under former President John Agyekum Kufuor was accompanied by actions that created the impression of a hostile takeover rather than a democratic transition.

“When we started with the democratic dispensation, the fourth republic in 2000, when my beloved President Kufuor who I love very much, a beautiful man, but I don't agree with his politics, I'll say that, but I respect him a lot because he comes out as a very good human being.

“When they took over power, it was as if they're taking over power by coup because they went after everybody else and disparaged everything and demonised and that is not the way to go,” he said in the interview.

He argued that Ghana has failed to fully move away from that confrontational political culture, noting that similar behaviour resurfaced following the December 2024 general elections.

“We [NDC] also did it in December 2024 when we won the elections and you start demonizing and I think we have to be a little circumspect because we are a country where there are linkages,” he shared his concern.

Baffour stressed that while wrongdoing should not be ignored, accountability must be pursued without hatred.

“I'm not saying that when people have done criminal things they should be let off, no, but we have to be very circumspect in dealing with one another and it shouldn't be full hatred, he indicated.

The former lawmaker for Ablekuma South also expressed concern about developments in Parliament, describing the current atmosphere as unhealthy for democratic governance.

He urged political leaders to reflect on Ghana’s political history and draw lessons from past administrations, particularly the role of experienced advisers.

“I don't like what is going on in parliament despite the fact that most of the main players who are doing the things that are being done are people I like very much, but I believe that should also have a certain sense of history. We should also think of what has happened before and we should also listen sometimes to those who are a little older than us, those who are experienced,” he noted.

Referencing the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, Baffour highlighted how earlier leaders relied on seasoned figures for guidance.

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He warned against sidelining such voices, stressing that their institutional memory remains valuable to national development.

“Rawlings had DF Annan. He had others who were older, Captain Tsikata, the Obeds, you know, who would listen to him and I think that there are people around who have a great grasp of a lot of things that have happened before who can advise us and we shouldn't dismiss them at all and we should create the avenues where we could do things,” he added.

MAG/EB

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