Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged African leaders to prioritise policies over mere electoral victories, stressing that governance should focus on citizens’ wellbeing rather than political survival.
Speaking at the opening of the African Political Parties Summit 2025 in Accra, the Vice President called on political parties across the continent to align their agendas with the real needs of their people.
“Policies, when divorced from the pursuit of wellbeing, become empty,” she noted. “Our people do not ask us to perform politics for its own sake. They deserve politics that translates into food security, decent jobs, functional schools, accessible healthcare, efficient infrastructure, security, and justice. They expect us to focus not just on the next election, but more importantly, on the next generation.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also stressed the importance of rising above narrow political interests, fostering cooperation among even the fiercest opponents, and building tolerance to ensure peace, development, and progress. “Let’s adopt a long view… for the sake of policies and projects, and they must outlast our own political careers,” she said.
Addressing the issue of poor policy continuity, she encouraged leaders to design national development plans that would be respected by successive governments. While recognising that disagreements are inevitable, she said it was vital to “agree on the fundamentals” and work toward “an Africa united in vision to defy the odds,” citing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a notable achievement.
She further challenged both ruling and opposition parties to ensure stability during elections, warning that political instability threatens livelihoods. The Vice President expressed optimism that the adoption of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI) framework would enhance political cooperation across the continent, helping address regional threats, combat illicit trade, and respond to pandemics.
The APPI framework, once adopted, is expected to create a platform for dialogue, build institutional capacity, strengthen cooperation, resolve disputes, and enable collaboration on shared priorities.
The three-day summit has brought together African Heads of State under the theme “From Politics to Prosperity.”
