In the wake of our defeat in the last general elections and most recently, the Akwatia by-election held on September 2, 2025, a familiar refrain has echoed within the New Patriotic Party and among the broader public: “We lost because we were not united.” But we must ask ourselves: is unity alone ever possible? And is it the real path to victory?
*Akwatia: Another Setback, Not Just a Lost Seat*
In Akwatia, the NDC’s Bernard Bediako Baidoo claimed victory with 18,199 votes, defeating the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu, who garnered 15,235 votes, a margin of 2,964 votes. Akwatia, a traditional swing constituency, had flipped in our favour during the 2024 general elections but has now returned to the NDC fold.
Observers quickly blamed internal unity for the loss. Yet, as we consider the nature of human organisations, especially political parties, we must face a simple truth: as long as we remain human, we can never be completely united.
*Unity Is Elusive, Purpose Is Essential*
This may sound fatalistic, but it is not defeatist. It is a realistic starting point. John Agyekum Kufuor once said, “Unity is essential for our development. But unity cannot be achieved by force, or at the expense of freedom, or by propaganda.” His words remind us that unity is important, but forced unity is brittle and unsustainable.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, speaking on African integration, similarly emphasised that peace and stability, not artificial unity, are the true foundations of progress: “Efforts at integration cannot be achieved without peace and stability on the continent.”
Globally, leaders share this perspective. Former US President Barack Obama said, “We may not all see eye to eye, but we can pull together when our shared purpose is clear.” European Union pioneer Jean Monnet believed that true cooperation arises from shared objectives, not superficial harmony. Nelson Mandela understood this principle: “It is in the diversity of our views and in the strength of our shared purpose that we find real unity.”
These insights guide us back to a vital shift: our party’s strength does not depend on every hand moving in perfect unison, but on many hands pulling in the same direction toward a shared purpose.
*Common Purpose Over Illusory Unity*
A political party thrives when internal differences are channelled into a shared mission. The NPP must accept that disagreements, competing ambitions, and diverse viewpoints are part of our reality. What matters is our ability to unite around a clear purpose: to serve Ghana, uphold democratic values, deliver development, and build governance that lasts.
Once we commit to that shared mission, it becomes a compass guiding us through disagreements rather than allowing them to derail us.
Moving Forward: Focus on Shared Goals
To bounce back from Akwatia and other disappointments, we must reshape our internal narrative:
1. Recognize the inevitability of difference. Internal debates are not failures, they reflect engagement and democratic health.
2. Clarify our shared mission. Whether it is economic opportunity, improved education, or accountable governance, let us articulate it clearly and consistently.
3. Hold each other accountable to the mission, not to uniformity. Cooperation, not conformity, should define our cohesion.
4. Elevate discipline over harmony. We may not agree on everything, but we must all be disciplined in pursuit of the common goal.
*A Closing Thought*
We may never be fully united in thought or approach, and that is acceptable. What we must never lose is our collective will to achieve something greater than ourselves. That shared purpose can hold together a party rich in ideas, even amid disagreement.
Let our rallying cry be not unity for its own sake, but shared purpose that transcends personal differences and fuels collective victory.
