The New Patriotic Party is a party born out of one of the most consistent political tradition on the African continent – the Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition. Historically, the NPP is fore-fathered by the UGCC. However, in tradition, the NPP is rooted in the UP Tradition.
After Ghana attained its independence on 6th March 1957, the Parliament of Ghana which was dominated by the Nkrumah’s CPP passed the Avoidance of Discrimination Act 1957 which banned all parties and organizations that were confined to any racial, ethnic or religious groups with effect from 31st December 1957. This was deemed by the opposition parties as a calculated effort by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to make the CPP the only political party having the legal requirements to exist and operate.
The opposition parties quickened to merge into one party called the United Party. The UP comprised of the National Liberation Movement (NLM), Northern Peoples Party (NPP), Anlo Youth Organization, Muslims Association Party, Togoland Congress and the Ga Shifimokpee.
The United Party, though it was an almagma of all opposition parties of the time, it was dominated by the NLM which was the biggest opposition before its formation. The NLM saw its root in the Ghana Congress Party and the UGCC. However, the role, commitment and sacrifices made by Chief Dombo to the UP cannot be underrated.
The UP’s effectiveness as opposition suffered when it was no more recognized as the official opposition after Ghana became a Republic in 1960. In September 1962, the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for a one-party State. This was accepted following a referendum in January 1964. Nkrumah’s superiority desire caused him to arrest and detained majority of those he deemed opponents to his political principles. For instance, Obetsebi Lamptey was chased on exile and returned to Ghana hiding in bushes till he died miserably while Dr. J. B Danquah was detained in Nsawam prison till he died there in 1965. This situation persisted till February 24, 1966 when Nkrumah’s government was overthrown by the National Liberation Council.
Under the reign of the NLC, Dr. Busia was appointed the chairman of the NCCE hence his popularity with the masses became unmatched. Eventually, when the NLC desired to handover the State to a civilian government, Dr. K. A. Busia who formed and led the Progress Party won the 1969 election and became the Prime Minister. His reign lasted for 27 months then he was overthrown by the National Redemption Council. It was not until 2001 that a member of the UP tradition (J. A. Kuffour) was elected the President of the nation.
A political party like the NPP which was built on the tradition of UP should have been winning elections massively as it happened in the just ended 2016 election. This because the tradition was built on the structures of the nation ( Tribe, religion and competence) and it also have what it takes to govern a nation. However, the unfortunate has occurred in many times. This is due to the fact that the leaders of the party (tradition) apart from Nana Akufo-Addo, have failed to commit themselves to the task of inculcating the norms of the tradition to growing generations.
It comes with no doubt that Nana Akufo-Addo’s role in the formation of the Danquah-Busia Club is what resurrected the UP tradition and subsequently led to the victory of NPP in the 2000 election. Also, Nana Akufo-Addo, through his law chamber and the Danquah Institute has impacted the UP tradition into many big brains who are now playing diverse role in the national politics eg; Philip Addison, Joe Ghartey, Atta Kyea, Nana Asante Bediatuo, Ursula Owusu, Asenso, Abu Jinapor, Eugene Arhin, Mustapha Hamid etc. It is therefore not surprising that his victory was overwhelming.
The NPP’s ability to tap and maintain potential beings from its historic components will strengthen the UP Kingdom and secure the Party’s victory for a very long time. At a point in time, the NPP was perceived as “Akan Party”. The coming into the party’s front line politics by some known descendants of the Dombo section of the tradition (Dr. Bawumia, Anthony Karbo, Otiko Djaba, Mustapha Hamid etc) has raised the consciousness of the Northern people of their share in the NPP hence changing the perception of the people of the North about NPP.
The eternal reign of a Kingdom depends on the ability of its bigwigs to impact the norms of the Kingdom into young generation. Nana Akufo-Addo is very good when it comes to impacting and nurturing potential beings with the norms of the UP Tradition and must be emulated by all the NPP bigwigs.
It is clear that anytime the NPP gain consciousness of its foundation pillars, they win election. Therefore, the NPP’s ability to unite its three founding pillars as well as tapping and nurturing smart youth in the party will strengthen its foundation hence positioning the party to win subsequent elections in the country.
In the coming years, the NPP bigwigs must emulate Chief Dombo’s path of sacrificing individual desire for supremacy for a collective gain. The vibrancy of the United Party was as a result of Chief Dombo sacrificing his desire of becoming the leader of UP to Dr. K. A. Busia.