For decades, Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) has anchored its political identity in the mantra “We have the men”—a claim to intellectual superiority that shaped its rivalry with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Born from opposition to Jerry Rawlings’ revolutionary era and his transition to democratic rule in the 1990s, the NPP positioned itself as the bastion of Ghana’s brightest minds, a narrative amplified by media allies and anti-Rawlings sentiment. Yet this story, long accepted as gospel, obscures a parallel reality: the NDC’s own reservoir of intellectual firepower, often sidelined in a politically charged discourse that prioritized partisan loyalty over merit.
The NPP’s early branding thrived on the visibility of figures like J.H. Mensah, Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, and later Nana Akufo-Addo—stalwarts celebrated as Ghana’s “foremost thinkers.” Their vocal opposition to Rawlings’ regimes, particularly after rejecting the controversial 1992 election results, cemented their image as the nation’s intellectual vanguard. Meanwhile, the NDC’s thinkers—from legal luminary Dr. Obed Asamoah to economic architect Kwesi Botchwey—were dismissed as mere extensions of Rawlings’ shadow, their credentials overshadowed by association with a polarizing leader.
This selective recognition, critics argue, was less about objective evaluation and more about political expediency. Tsatsu Tsikata, the legal strategist, and Kwamena Ahwoi, architect of Ghana’s decentralization reforms, epitomized the NDC’s intellectual depth. Yet their contributions were routinely downplayed, framed as tainted by proximity to Rawlings’ “revolutionary” ethos. Even as the NDC evolved under John Atta Mills and John Mahama, nurturing a new generation of leaders like Hannah Tetteh and Seth Terkper, the party struggled to shed the perception of intellectual inferiority—a narrative the NPP weaponized to great effect.
Today, the tables are turning. As the NDC gears up for a potential return to power, its bench of talent is drawing fresh scrutiny. Figures like Haruna Iddrisu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang—Ghana’s first female vice presidential candidate—embody a blend of youth, academic rigor, and policy experience. Behind the scenes, technocrats such as economist Seth Terkper and legal strategist Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong signal a party no longer content to cede the intellectual high ground.
The NDC’s resurgence raises pointed questions: Was the NPP’s “men” narrative ever about intellect—or merely a political gambit to delegitimize rivals? Analysts note that Rawlings’ transition from military ruler to democratically elected president unnerved Ghana’s elite, who viewed his continued influence as a threat to their hegemony. By framing the NDC as a “revolutionary relic,” the NPP and its allies effectively erased the party’s intellectual contributions, reducing its identity to Rawlings’ persona.
Yet the NDC’s current revival under Mahama—bolstered by figures like Joyce Bawa Mogtari and governance expert Prof. Ransford Gyampo—suggests a strategic pivot. The party is no longer relying on Rawlings’ legacy but showcasing a diversified roster of professionals, from cybersecurity experts to development economists. Even critics concede that Opoku-Agyemang’s selection as Mahama’s running mate in 2020 disrupted the NPP’s monopoly on “elite” appeal, leveraging her academic pedigree and global reputation.
This shift reflects broader changes in Ghanaian politics. Voters, increasingly skeptical of empty rhetoric, demand tangible expertise amid economic crises and governance failures. The NDC’s emphasis on technocratic competence—mirroring trends in Senegal and Kenya—hints at a regional recalibration, where parties are judged less on historical allegiances and more on actionable vision.
Still, challenges persist. The NPP retains a formidable intellectual base, with figures like Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia anchoring its policy agenda. Moreover, Ghana’s media landscape, historically skewed toward anti-NDC bias, remains a hurdle in reshaping public perception.
As the 2024 elections loom, the NDC’s challenge is clear: to prove that its “men”—and women—can translate credentials into solutions for a nation grappling with debt, unemployment, and institutional decay. For the NPP, the risk is complacency; resting on past laurels may no longer suffice in a contest increasingly defined by competence over legacy.
In the end, Ghana’s political duel transcends the “men” debate—it’s a battle for relevance in an era where intellect must serve progress, not just pedigree. The party that grasps this may well redefine the nation’s future.
