NPP Primaries: Islamic scholar warns aspirants against bribery

Ghanaian Islamic scholar, Dr. Baafi Abdul-Muhsin, has cautioned NPP delegates against corruption and divisive politics, warning that their flagbearer choice could shape Ghana’s future.

He insisted that “Ghana is not for sale,” and reminded party delegates that the country “belongs to all of us.”

The warning comes as tensions rise ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries, a process Dr. Abdul-Muhsin described as far more than an internal party contest.

In a strongly worded statement copied to the office of Modern Ghana Online, he said the decision before delegates would influence Ghana’s political, economic, and social direction for decades.

“This is not the time for cowardice, bribery, or blind loyalty,” he cautioned, urging party executives and delegates to place patriotism and integrity above personal benefit.

Dr. Abdul-Muhsin warned that any moral failure at this stage would amount to a betrayal of the Ghanaian people, stressing that the stakes extend well beyond party interests.

“The future of Ghana is being decided now,” he said, noting that a reckless choice could result in years of economic hardship, democratic decline, and social instability.

He delivered a sharp rebuke to vote-buying and money-driven politics, declaring that “votes must not be sold, and leadership must not be auctioned to the highest bidder.”

According to him, delegates who trade their votes for cash or favours become complicit in eroding public trust and weakening democratic integrity, paving the way for corruption, abuse of power, and state capture.

The scholar also criticised aspirants who exploit tribal, ethnic, or religious sentiments to gain advantage, describing such strategies as reckless, dangerous, and unpatriotic.

He warned that leaders who sow division for power threaten national unity and undermine the peace Ghana is admired for globally.

Turning to leadership conduct, Dr. Abdul-Muhsin condemned what he described as desperation for power marked by emotional instability, arrogance, insults, and propaganda.

“Leadership is not a shouting match, nor is it built on character assassination,” he said, adding that hostility and bitterness disqualify individuals from the moral authority required to govern.

He further cautioned against selfish politicians seeking power to control state resources, manipulate contracts, or enrich themselves and their allies, while also warning delegates to be wary of deceptive and unrealistic campaign promises that weaken public confidence and stall development.

In a final appeal, he urged delegates to ensure that national interest outweighs ambition, and that integrity triumphs over inducement, insisting that Ghana’s democratic and developmental gains must be protected, not sacrificed to greed.