The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the newly launched Patriotic Institute as a bold and strategic effort to revitalise the ideological foundations of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking at the official launch of the Institute on Wednesday (25 June) at the NPP Headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Effutu, delivered remarks on behalf of the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
He hailed the new body as “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.”
Embracing history
The Minority Leader said the creation of the Institute marked a “new chapter” in the intellectual and ideological life of the party, reinforcing both its historical mission and its future orientation. He cited several key achievements of past NPP administrations.
“Our liberal democratic foundations are not just philosophical concepts. They have produced tangible results from the NHIS and school feeding programme under former President Kufuor to Free SHS and Agenda 111 under former President Akufo-Addo,” he said.
However, Mr Afenyo-Markin cautioned that the party must not rest on its historical achievements.
“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 to address that very challenge, calling it “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.”
Strategic orientation
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Institute would provide strategic support to NPP communicators and members by grounding them in both historical awareness and ideological clarity.
“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,” he explained.
He added that the Institute would also play a central role in shaping the legislative work of the party’s Members of Parliament.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the Institute would help MPs align their work with the philosophical and constitutional ideals of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, allowing them to serve not only as individuals, but as “custodians of an intellectual tradition.”
A movement of ideas
Mr Afenyo-Markin also underscored the potential political advantage the Institute could offer, particularly in helping the party present stronger, value-based policy alternatives to its opponents.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The Patriotic Institute has been set up as a training centre, think tank and policy hub. It will offer programmes in political philosophy, governance, communication, and leadership, with the aim of equipping party communicators and future leaders with the tools needed for effective public service.