The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on national executives of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to set aside internal divisions across tertiary campuses.
He stressed that with the NPP now having a flagbearer for the 2028 elections, students should focus on supporting the party’s candidate, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, rather than aligning with individual personalities.
Promoting Bawumia’s Initiatives
Speaking to TESCON executives in Parliament last Thursday, Mr Afenyo-Markin urged students to actively communicate the positive initiatives of Dr Bawumia, particularly his digitalisation policy aimed at transforming Ghana’s economy.
“The digitalised economy promised by Dr Bawumia is practical and tangible, unlike the NDC’s 24-hour economy,” he said, highlighting the policy’s potential impact on the country.
He acknowledged TESCON’s commitment to party activism across campuses, especially during periods when the NPP was in opposition, describing the student wing as the intellectual and ideological engine of the party’s centre-right Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition.
Mr Afenyo-Markin explained that the party’s foundation, laid by these three patriots, upholds free enterprise, human rights, rule of law, and due process—principles that enable individuals to realise their full potential and contribute to national development.
Discipline, Loyalty, and Strategic Focus
Beyond party tradition, the Minority Leader said TESCON executives must demonstrate discipline, loyalty, and strategic focus in preparation for the 2028 elections.
“Discipline means yielding where necessary for the greater good of the group, in line with rules and regulations. Loyalty means resisting attempts to compromise your conscience or betray the party,” he said.
Taking the Message to the Grassroots
The MP for Effutu emphasised the importance of grassroots engagement, especially in addressing misinformation. He cited the NDC’s failure to tackle cocoa farmers’ issues, which led to accusations that the NPP mismanaged funds intended for farmers.
“These accusations are false. The NDC failed in its responsibility to farmers, while the NPP has consistently supported them during crises,” he said.
He urged TESCON students to engage with peers on campuses, particularly those whose parents are cocoa farmers, to explain the NPP’s record and highlight the NDC’s shortcomings.
“The state exists to intervene during crises, and the NPP has never turned its back on farmers when it mattered most,” Mr Afenyo-Markin concluded.