Dr Kofi Amoah challenges political parties to offer real solutions beyond primaries

Renowned Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist, Dr Kofi Amoah, has called for deep reflection on Ghana’s political culture following the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) recent election of a flagbearer ahead of the 2028 general elections.

In a strongly worded commentary published on his official X account, Dr Amoah questioned whether internal party primaries often celebrated as milestones of democracy are truly helping Ghana select leaders capable of confronting the country’s most entrenched development challenges.

According to him, the just-ended contest, like many before it, offered little clarity on the candidates’ concrete ideas for tackling youth unemployment, import dependency, low wages, weak educational outcomes, and persistent poverty.

“Did the process enlighten citizens about what the candidates stand for or their novel ideas for seriously fixing the problems we face?” he asked.

Dr Amoah argued that beyond campaign rhetoric and internal party enthusiasm, Ghana’s political processes have largely failed to produce leaders with the training, character, honesty and clarity of purpose required to transform the country’s vast natural and human resources into sustainable prosperity for the majority of citizens.

“I continue to agree with those who believe that we need a system that can change all of us from whom we have become into who we must be to enable us construct, build and sustain a befitting modern civilization for ourselves and humankind

We need mental and psychological revolution supported by purposeful institutions manned by people with integrity, competence and the patriotic fervor that has characterized almost every nation that has managed to rise up from its own bootstraps.”

A long-time advocate for African self-reliance, Dr Amoah reiterated his belief that Africa’s underdevelopment is not due to a lack of resources but rather the absence of a mental and psychological revolution led by visionary, patriotic leadership.

He warned that Ghana and Africa at large continues to rely on political and economic models that are “still-born, ineffective and ill-suited” to local realities, while foreign “development partners” remain primarily interested in extracting mineral wealth rather than building real value for African youth.

Drawing inspiration from Africa’s historical leaders and thinkers, Dr Amoah urged Ghanaians to revisit indigenous philosophies that recognised both the continent’s natural endowments and the external interests seeking to exploit them.

“Until we understand this albatross of our existence and seize the keys left by our forebears, our true liberation will continue to be delayed,” he noted.

“It is up to us to be truthful to ourselves and change or keep dancing to the tunes that sound harmonious only to the elites of our societies and their foreign cronies whilst the majority suffer without any hope of redemption”, he added.

In one of his most provocative assertions, Dr Amoah questioned the effectiveness of decades of electoral participation without meaningful structural reform, suggesting that the country risks voting for progress without addressing the root causes of stagnation.

As political parties intensify preparations toward 2028, Dr Amoah’s intervention adds to a growing public debate about whether Ghana’s democratic rituals are producing transformational leadership or merely recycling a system that benefits elites while leaving the majority without hope of redemption.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was on Saturday, elected as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party ahead of the 2028 General Elections.

The former Vice President beat off competition from Kennedy Agyapong, Bryn Acheampong, Dr Yaw Adutwum and Ing. Kwabena Agyapong. The NPP elections comes almost three years before the next elections.

The ruling NDC party will also elect their new flagbearer in 2027 to take over from John Mahama who is no longer eligible to be president after serving two terms in office.

Below is the full text of Dr Kofi Amoah’s X (Twitter) post:

Good morning Ghana

Another cycle has begun

One of the two major political parties who have ruled the country since independence has concluded their primaries and elected their presidential candidate for 2028

But let us ask ourselves honestly:

Did the process enlighten…

— CitizenKofi (@amoah_citizen) February 2, 2026