Asiedu Nketiah urges African political parties to prioritise effective governance

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the newly appointed Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for African political parties to prioritize building strong institutions and cultivating leaders capable of tackling the continent's long-term development challenges. In his inaugural address as Chair of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), Nketiah emphasized that political parties should shift their focus from mere electoral success to developing the skills, knowledge, and institutional frameworks necessary for effective governance.

Speaking at the APPI Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nketiah highlighted the importance of governance quality, linking it directly to the values and standards upheld within political parties. He stressed that political parties are not just election machines but are foundational to shaping future governments. Nketiah warned that power is temporary and that political parties must prepare their members for leadership roles, anticipating that those currently governing may eventually join the opposition, and vice versa.

He identified several pressing issues facing Africa, including a rapidly growing population, high youth unemployment, weak industrial capacity, and inadequate access to electricity. With 10 to 12 million young Africans entering the workforce annually, but only about three million formal jobs being created, Nketiah argued that Africa cannot rely solely on its natural resources and population growth for economic transformation.

Instead, he stressed the need for a shift towards building production, innovation, financial mobilization, and industrial capabilities. Nketiah emphasized that political parties aspiring to govern must possess deep expertise in key sectors such as industry, agriculture, trade, energy, technology, and public finance. He called for consistency in national development policies, ensuring that institutional expertise is preserved even when political leadership changes.

The proposed APPI Agenda 2040 would serve as a shared framework for political parties to develop the necessary institutional strength, leadership qualities, and capabilities to prepare Africa for future challenges. Nketiah advocated for increased investment in party schools, policy institutes, research institutions, and mechanisms for preserving institutional knowledge.

He also called for greater inclusion of women and young people in shaping policies and exercising political authority. Nketiah advocated for the APPI’s inaugural leadership to work closely with participating political parties, regional vice-chairs, the Africa Governance Centre, and the initiative’s secretariat to advance consultations on the Agenda 2040.

He encouraged continued collaboration with political parties and institutions outside Africa, noting that Africa's history of liberation struggles, democratic transitions, conflict resolution, and constitutional reforms offers valuable contributions to global political discourse. Nketiah reiterated that Africa's prosperity and international influence depend on strong political institutions capable of meeting the needs of a more urbanized, interconnected population.

He urged that the generation currently shaping Africa's future be equipped with institutions equal to the demands they will face.