Professor Kwaku Azar to deliver key lecture on political party ideologies

Professor Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, a renowned legal scholar and governance expert, is expected to deliver a landmark lecture on the apparent departure of Ghanaian political parties from the original ideologies that underpinned their formation.

Professor Kwaku Azar, a passionate and neutral voice for Ghana’s progress, has been invited by Solidaire Ghana as the guest speaker for its Public Forum scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Themed “Political Parties: Origin and Current Realities,” the forum will bring together governance and political experts to deliberate on how Ghanaian political parties — particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) — have become pale shadows of the ideals and visions of their founders.

The experts will examine whether the NDC, in its current form, still embodies the “social democratic” principles on which it was founded, and whether the NPP truly represents the centre-right ideals of the country.

In a Facebook post confirming his participation in the event organised by Solidaire Ghana, Professor Kwaku Azar posed a thought-provoking question: Would Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia recognise the political parties they inspired if they returned today?

“If Nkrumah, Busia, and Liman returned today, would they recognise the political parties they inspired? And if Kutu Acheampong were here today, would he simply say: ‘I told you so’?” he questioned.

Emphasising the importance of the forum, Professor Kwaku Azar further questioned whether political parties are still relevant to the nation’s progress or have been reduced to mere conveyor belts for political power and survival.

“Are political parties still engines of national development, or have they become conduits for patronage, power and political survival?” he asked.

“Join GOGO for a candid and thought-provoking conversation on the original vision and current realities of political parties,” he added.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with Professor Kingsley Agonnor of GIMP and Dr Kwame Asah Asante of the University of Ghana, who are expected to share their knowledge and insights on the relevance of political parties in Ghana’s national discourse.