Edem Agbana MP Cautions Young Politicians Against Personal Attacks During Party Elections
NDC Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has urged young politicians and political activists in both the NDC and NPP to maintain civility and protect their relationships as internal party elections become increasingly competitive.
In a message directed at his fellow young people and colleagues across the two major political parties, Agbana said political competition should not come at the expense of personal integrity, friendships and long-term relationships.
His message comes as internal party contests intensify, with supporters increasingly campaigning for their preferred candidates.
‘There is no formula in politics’
Agbana said political contests can be unpredictable and urged young politicians not to assume that today’s political opponent will remain an opponent forever.
According to him, everyone has the right to support a candidate of their choice and campaign passionately for that person.
However, he cautioned supporters against allowing political competition to compromise their decency.
“Support your candidate passionately. Campaign for them. Make the case for them. But never allow competition to rob you of your decency.”
He encouraged young politicians to focus their campaigns on ideas, competence, vision and the qualities of the candidates they support rather than personal attacks.
‘Do not create enemies you do not need’
Agbana specifically warned against insulting political opponents or attacking their families.
He urged young political actors not to destroy the character of people simply because they support different candidates.
Among his key warnings were calls to avoid:
- Insulting political opponents.
- Attacking their families.
- Destroying people’s character.
- Turning political differences into personal hatred.
- Using abusive language to campaign for political candidates.
He argued that disagreement does not have to become hostility.
“You can disagree without being disagreeable,” he said, stressing that political supporters can defend their candidates without demonising those on the other side.
Politics can change quickly
Drawing from his own experience in politics, Agbana said political relationships can change significantly over time.
He noted that someone being attacked today could become a colleague, leader, ally or even an important person in another politician’s future.
He therefore urged young politicians to consider the long-term consequences of their actions before engaging in political attacks.
According to him, politics has a long memory.
A person who is publicly humiliated during an internal election may eventually find themselves working alongside the same individual after the contest is over.
‘Never burn a bridge’
Agbana used the metaphor of burning bridges to explain the potential consequences of political hostility.
He observed that candidates who compete fiercely against each other during an election may eventually reconcile and work together.
The danger, he suggested, is that supporters who take the rivalry too personally could end up isolated after the politicians themselves have moved on.
“Never burn a bridge simply because you are walking a different path today.”
For young politicians building careers, the message is particularly relevant because today’s political relationships can influence opportunities and alliances years into the future.
A call for a different political culture
Agbana believes young people should play a leading role in changing Ghana’s political culture.
Rather than allowing political engagement to revolve around insults, personal attacks and character assassination, he wants young politicians to promote a political culture centred on ideas and public service.
He said political contests should be driven by:
Ideas. Competence. Vision. Service. Character.
The emphasis, according to Agbana, should be on convincing voters and party delegates why a particular candidate deserves their support rather than destroying the reputation of competing candidates.
Fight for your candidate, but don’t lose yourself
The MP did not call for young politicians to become passive during political contests.
Instead, he encouraged them to campaign strongly and defend their political convictions.
His message was that political passion and personal integrity can coexist.
“Fight for your candidate, but do not lose yourself in the fight.”
He urged young politicians to support their preferred candidates and contest fiercely while remembering that elections eventually end.
Politics is temporary, character stays
Agbana concluded his message by reminding young political actors that political positions and electoral contests are temporary, while personal reputation can last much longer.
He expressed hope that after internal elections, politicians and their supporters would still be able to sit together, shake hands and work towards Ghana’s development.
His final message was simple:
“Politics is temporary. Character stays with you.”
As Ghana’s political parties continue to prepare for internal contests, Agbana’s caution raises a broader question about the role of young people in shaping the country’s political culture.
Competition is an essential part of democracy, but the manner in which people compete can determine whether political disagreements strengthen or weaken relationships.
For young politicians and activists, the challenge may therefore be to fight hard for their ideas without making permanent enemies in pursuit of temporary political victories.
This article is based on a message shared by Edem Agbana on his Facebook page. The views expressed are those of the MP.
