The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has criticised the conduct of some National Democratic Congress (NDC) members during the party’s recent constituency elections, cautioning that certain electoral practices threaten to erode its founding principles, political character and organisational identity.
Speaking to party supporters, Mr Agbodza expressed disappointment over developments he had witnessed during the internal electoral exercise, saying some of the actions reminded him of practices he would traditionally associate with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said his observations extended beyond his Adaklu constituency to several parts of the Volta Region and other areas across the country, arguing that the party needed to undertake serious introspection and address conduct inconsistent with its political heritage.
The minister disclosed that he had never offered financial inducements to anyone to influence an electoral outcome in his constituency, stressing his discomfort with the use of money to attract support or secure political positions.
“I have never paid a cedi to anybody in Adaklu directed branch at the constituency election before. At the past elections, we saw things like that happen. You can say that is good,” he said.
Mr Agbodza further explained that what he witnessed during the latest round of elections was particularly troubling because of the political traditions and identity historically associated with the NDC.
“Yesterday, I saw things that I actually thought it was NPP people doing it. Today, you may be happy about it,” he remarked.
He maintained that the developments were not isolated incidents within Adaklu, but formed part of a wider pattern he believed deserved attention from the party’s leadership and membership.
“I am saying what I saw yesterday across the region, across the country. This is not the Rawlings party. I can’t say more. Let’s keep it. Let’s reflect on it, and let’s make amendments,” he added, invoking the political legacy of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings as he called for a reassessment of the party’s internal practices.
The minister also took issue with what he described as a reluctance among politicians to confront uncomfortable realities within their organisations, particularly when speaking openly could jeopardise personal relationships or diminish their popularity among colleagues.
He argued that the desire to remain popular should not prevent party members from identifying and challenging practices capable of weakening the organisation.
Mr Agbodza said he was willing to voice his reservations even if doing so attracted criticism or affected his relationships with fellow party members.
“In our part of the world, when we see trouble, because everybody wants to be loved, somehow I don’t really care whether somebody like me or not. I don’t know why I’m like that. I am 24 years. If I don’t have enough friends now, I don’t need more,” he stated.
He consequently appealed to NDC members to critically assess the conduct of the recent internal elections, confront any practices that could compromise the credibility of the party’s democratic processes and implement corrective measures to protect its political principles and public reputation.
His comments come amid renewed discussion within the governing party about allegations of financial inducements and the increasing influence of money in internal electoral contests. A report published on November 15, 2026, said he made the remarks during the NDC Volta Regional Delegates Conference at Ho Technical University.
