Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Roland Affail Monney, has underscored the importance of unity within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), warning that internal divisions could weaken both the party and Ghana’s democratic system ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on Friday, January 23, Mr Affail Monney said the NPP, as Ghana’s second largest political party, remains a crucial pillar in the country’s democratic architecture.

“The NPP, being the second largest party in Ghana, constitutes a vital cog of our democratic machinery. If it assists, our democracy will be enhanced. If it fails, our democracy will suffer,” he stated.

He noted that recent public displays of cohesion within the party should not be dismissed as mere political theatre, but rather seen as a genuine effort to heal cracks and build consensus ahead of the party’s upcoming delegates’ conference and the 2028 elections.

“We are inclined to believe that what we witnessed yesterday was not a mere act of political symbolism, but a demonstration of honest, genuine and ironclad commitment to unite in preparation for the delegates’ conference next week and the 2028 general elections,” he said.

According to the former GJA President, unity has become the NPP’s most urgent requirement if it is to remain competitive after its loss of power and reposition itself as a credible alternative government.

“More than ever before, the NPP needs that oxygen of unity – to stay together, to campaign together and to bolster their chances of winning the 2028 elections,” he added.

He warned that the party now faces a clear choice between cohesion and collapse, cautioning that prolonged infighting could have dire consequences.

“Two choices face the NPP now: demonstrable unity or fatal fracture. The second one comes with calamitous consequences, and the NPP can never afford to break into pieces now,” Mr Affail Monney said.

He also cautioned party leaders and flagbearer aspirants against the use of incendiary rhetoric, stressing that inflammatory comments could deepen divisions and undermine the party’s rebuilding efforts.

Turning his attention to the media, Mr Affail Monney urged journalists to uphold professional standards in their coverage of the party’s internal affairs, warning against amplifying unverified opinion pieces that exaggerate disunity.

“Every party has its challenges. A party is a human institution, and like all human institutions, perfection is an impossible goal,” he noted, adding that the media should not “feed fat on such imperfections.”

He questioned the credibility of some opinion articles circulating in the media space, arguing that many lack believability and expertise and are sometimes crafted to serve the interests of particular political aspirants.

As the NPP prepares to elect a flagbearer, the former GJA President stressed that unity after the contest will be decisive.

“Whoever emerges as flagbearer should enjoy the support of the competitors. Otherwise, they may fight a losing battle in 2028,” he warned.