Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the newly launched Patriotic Institute as “a true call for loyalty” and urged members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be firmly rooted in the party’s values and ideological tradition.

Speaking on behalf of the minority caucus in Parliament at the launch of the institute held at the NPP headquarters, Afenyo-Markin said the centre would help the party sharpen its message and prepare its leaders to meet Ghana’s changing political realities.

“This institute marks a new chapter in the intellectual and ideological life of the NPP,” he said.

“It is the clearest institutional expression of our party’s enduring commitment to development in freedom, to principled leadership, and to the constant renewal of the values that have defined the NPP since its inception.”

He called attention to the party’s record over the past three decades, highlighting its role in democratic governance and policy innovation.

“Our liberal democratic foundations are not just philosophical concepts,” he said. “They have produced results from the NHIS and school feeding programme under former President Kufuor, to Free SHS and Agenda 111 under former President Akufo-Addo.”

However, Afenyo-Markin cautioned that past achievements alone were not enough.

“In a world that is growing more urban, more complex and competitive, how do we ensure that we remain relevant?” he asked. “Conviction alone is not enough. We must be able to articulate our beliefs with clarity, depth and confidence to the people of Ghana.”

He said the Patriotic Institute was created as a direct response to that challenge.

“It will serve as a living archive of our party’s journey, a centre of ideological formation, policy innovation, and a training ground for the next generation of NPP leaders,” he said.

“It will empower our communicators with history and strategic clarity, and equip every member to not only defend our record but to articulate with confidence the visions and values that make our tradition distinct.”

The minority leader also stressed the importance of the institute to Parliament itself, saying it would help guide MPs in their legislative roles.

"As your leader in parliament with my colleagues supporting the calls of our party, let me emphasise how critical this initiative is, not just for the party but for parliament itself. The patriotic institute should be the fulcrum through which the NPP nurtures its leaders and shapes our policy conversations in Parliament."

“With this institute, NPP Members of Parliament will no longer enter the chamber as individuals alone, but as custodians of an intellectual tradition, men and women grounded in our constitution, policies and the philosophy of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition,” he said.

He underscored the political edge the institute could provide in shaping national conversations.

“This, I believe, will lead to a tougher, value-driven scrutiny of our opponent’s policies. It will allow us to propose better, bolder and more visionary solutions to the challenges facing Ghanaians, alternatives that are not just populist responses but principles grounded in our beliefs and reflective of our long-standing commitment to inclusive development. That is true leadership.”

“This institute is a powerful reminder that the NPP is not merely a political party, it is a movement of ideas,” he added.