NPP Belgium Branch holds seminar to rediscover party principles ahead of 2028 elections

The Belgium Branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has organised a political education seminar aimed at deepening members’ understanding of the party’s principles, political tradition and ideological foundations ahead of its upcoming national leadership elections and the 2028 general elections.

The seminar, held on Sunday, August 23, 2026, was organised under the theme, “Rediscovering the NPP Principles, Political Tradition and the Path to Renewal.” It was the first major programme organised by the newly elected Belgium Branch administration and was hosted by the Antwerp Chapter.

The programme brought together 25 selected participants from the three NPP chapters in Belgium — Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven for an intensive engagement on the history, philosophy and future direction of the party.

The resource person for the seminar was Dr. Anane Agyei of the Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development, a development think tank associated with the NPP tradition.

In his welcome remarks, the First Vice-Chairman of the Antwerp Chapter, Sampson Sarpong, shared his personal experience with the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia and highlighted the importance of preserving and disseminating his ideas.

Sarpong stressed that Dr Busia’s ideas and contributions should not remain confined to Ghana’s political history but should be taught and shared with present and future generations as part of efforts to advance Ghana’s development.

He called for greater appreciation of the intellectual and developmental ideas that have shaped the NPP tradition and their relevance to contemporary Ghana.

“Know our past to shape our future”

Speaking on the purpose of the seminar, the Belgium Branch Secretary, Mr. Andrews Kwame Perprem, said the programme was designed to reconnect members with the historical foundations, principles and philosophy of the NPP.

Perprem explained that the NPP’s political tradition was rooted in the foundations laid by prominent nationalists and intellectuals, including Dr. J.B. Danquah, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, Dombo and other patriots who contributed significantly to Ghana’s political development.

He stressed that understanding the party’s past was essential to defining its present identity and future direction.

“Until we know our past, our principles and philosophies, we cannot have a certain presence and a prospect for the future,” Mr. Perprem said.

According to him, the seminar sought to help members understand the principles of the NPP, appreciate its political tradition, confidently explain the party’s philosophy to others, and renew their knowledge and commitment to the party.

He added that the programme was also intended to energise the membership ahead of the election of the party’s national officers and help prepare the Belgium Branch strategically for the 2028 general elections.

Dr Anane Agyei commenced the seminar with a documentary on the life and political career of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, followed by a detailed presentation on the historical antecedents of the NPP tradition.

He traced the development of the tradition from the colonial period through Ghana’s independence and the political developments that followed, leading to its evolution into the modern-day NPP.

The presentation provided participants with an opportunity to examine the historical circumstances that shaped the party and the principles that have distinguished the tradition over the years.

Following the documentary, participants engaged in a discussion centred on a practical question: How would an NPP member convince an 18-year-old first-time voter to vote for the party?

Several suggestions emerged from the discussion, but participants largely agreed that political education of the youth should be a central component of the party’s strategy.

Participants argued that young voters must be given a clear understanding of what the NPP stands for, including its principles, philosophy and historical contribution to Ghana’s development.

They said a deeper understanding of the party’s ideological foundations could strengthen young people’s confidence in and belief in the NPP.

Dr Agyei also outlined some of the initiatives being undertaken by the Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development to promote political education, the NPP’s principles and its ideological tradition.

He urged the party’s communicators to place greater emphasis on the concepts of “Welfare, Dignity and Freedom” when educating the electorate about the NPP’s political philosophy.

He emphasised the importance of communicating the party’s values in a manner that resonates with ordinary Ghanaians, particularly young people and first-time voters.

Participants at the seminar also expressed the belief that the Ghanaian diaspora has an important role to play in helping to reposition the NPP and contribute to the party’s efforts towards the 2028 general elections.

They agreed that the diaspora could contribute not only financially but also through political education, policy advocacy, strategic communication, research, networking and mobilisation.

They further called for greater unity among NPP members abroad and a more coordinated approach to supporting the party’s activities in Ghana.

In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the NPP Belgium Branch, Mr. Solomon Amankwah Agyin, thanked Dr Anane Agyei for accepting the branch’s invitation and for delivering what he described as a great and impactful seminar.

Agyin urged members of the Belgium Branch to remain united and work together to build a strong pillar of support for the NPP ahead of the party’s internal elections and the 2028 general elections.

He stressed that unity, political education and a renewed commitment to the party’s principles would be critical to strengthening the NPP’s structures and its contribution to the party’s national campaign.

The seminar marked the beginning of the new Belgium Branch administration’s programme of political education and engagement, with the leadership indicating its commitment to strengthening the ideological understanding, unity and organisational capacity of the party’s membership in Belgium.

The branch expressed appreciation to the Antwerp Chapter for hosting the programme, the participants from Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven for their engagement, and Dr. Anane Agyei and the Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development for their contribution to the seminar.