News
Party members have a choice, not an obligation – Arthur Kennedy on NPP rebuilding efforts
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Arthur Kennedy, has argued that party supporters are not obliged to vote for any candidate simply because they belong to the party.
In his view, party members have the freedom to decide who to support, and candidates must work to earn their votes.
Speaking during discussions on the NPP’s reorganisation and rebuilding ahead of the 2028 general elections, Dr. Kennedy rejected the notion that loyalty alone should determine voting behaviour within the party.
“You often hear people say every good party member needs to support our candidate. No, they don’t. They have a choice,” he noted.
He stressed that voters ultimately decide based on performance and credibility.
“If, by election day, they believe you have earned their vote, they will vote for you. If not, they will stay home or vote for your opponent,” he added.
Dr. Kennedy also weighed in on debates surrounding the party’s internal election processes, especially claims that a different voting system could have changed the outcome of recent contests.
Touching on the candidates presented at the party’s last internal election, he observed that it is difficult to rely on assumptions about outcomes that were never tested.
“If the executive-level voting approach had been used, would it have produced a different verdict? That cannot be known because it was never applied,” he explained.
He cautioned political actors against excessive speculation, emphasising that democratic politics must rest on clear and legitimate procedures.
“In politics, we must be careful with hypotheticals,” he stressed.
Dr. Kennedy maintained that he would have accepted the outcome of the process regardless of the result, provided it was fair and transparent.
“If the process had been legitimate and delivered the same result, I would have embraced it fully,” he stated.
His remarks come at a time when the NPP is engaged in internal discussions on strengthening party unity and rebuilding public confidence ahead of the 2028 elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
