Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on African leaders to shift the focus of electoral politics from ballots to meaningful policies that truly address the needs of their people.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 African Political Parties Summit in Accra, she urged political parties across the continent to prioritize governance that improves lives over partisan competition.
“Policies without a genuine commitment to wellbeing are hollow,” she said. “Citizens don’t demand politics for politics’ sake—they want leadership that delivers food security, quality education, healthcare, jobs, infrastructure, and justice. They want us to focus not just on the next election, but more critically, on the next generation.”
The Vice President emphasized the need for unity beyond party lines and encouraged political opponents to work collaboratively in the interest of peace and progress. She stressed the importance of tolerance, long-term thinking, and continuity in governance to drive sustained development.
“We must take the long view,” she urged. “Policies and projects should be designed to endure beyond individual political terms and leadership cycles.”
She also addressed a key obstacle to African development: the frequent disruption of national plans due to changes in political leadership. Professor Opoku-Agyemang called on leaders to commit to national development agendas that future administrations would uphold, regardless of political affiliation.
While acknowledging the inevitability of differing opinions among leaders, she underscored the need to reach consensus on core priorities and work towards a common African vision one that, as she noted, is already beginning to take shape through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She further called on both ruling and opposition parties to safeguard political stability during elections, warning that unrest threatens livelihoods and undermines national progress.
The Vice President expressed confidence in the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), which is expected to be adopted at the summit. The APPI framework is designed to encourage political cooperation across the continent, build institutional strength, and promote joint action on shared challenges such as regional security, illicit trade, and global health threats.
The three-day summit, themed “From Politics to Prosperity,” has convened African Heads of State, policymakers, and party leaders with the aim of reshaping the continent’s political landscape through collaboration and shared purpose.
