Speaking at the 47th Anniversary Commemoration of the June 4 Uprising held on Thursday, June 4, leading National Democratic Congress figure Fifi Kwetey has urged emerging political leaders, particularly within the NDC, to prioritise national service over personal political ambition.
He argued that genuine leadership should arise organically from a deep commitment to public service rather than from an intense personal pursuit of political office or power.
In his address, Mr Kwetey referenced former Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama as examples of individuals he described as leaders who did not aggressively pursue power but instead responded when called upon to serve the nation.
He contrasted this with former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, suggesting that excessive personal ambition for the presidency can have negative implications for governance and national development.
“My plea to all people who are aspiring for leadership of our country, especially at the NDC, is to cut out the desperation. Cut out the selfishness. Cut out the thinking that this is about you,” he stated.
He emphasised that political leadership should never be treated as a personal entitlement or a goal to be pursued at any cost, insisting instead that leaders ought to be shaped by circumstance, service, and public trust.
“You must not orchestrate left, right and centre just because you want to become a leader. Leaders in this party emerge. This country needs leaders who truly love the country and not themselves,” he added.
Mr Kwetey further cautioned that when personal ambition becomes the primary motivation for seeking political office, it risks undermining the broader interests of the nation and weakening governance outcomes.
“People who are desperate and must be leaders by all means should not be encouraged because such desperation only leads to a nation going down. The destiny of our country is at stake,” he warned.
His remarks form part of broader reflections at the commemorative event, where speakers revisited the ideals of the June 4 Uprising, including discipline, accountability, and selfless leadership in public life.
