By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Political leaders, policymakers, and governance advocates from across the continent have converged in Accra this week for the 2025 edition of the African Political Parties Summit, held under the theme: “From Politics to Prosperity: Strengthening Inter-Party Collaboration for Africa’s Development and Economic Transformation.”
Opening the Summit, Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang called for a united front across the continent to tackle shared challenges.
”We will not agree on everything. But, if we can agree on the fundamentals, that Africa’s peace, unity, and wellbeing are non-negotiable, then we will have already taken a decisive step forward,” she said.
The Vice President added “We must envisage and work towards an Africa that, when united in vision, can defy the odds. We saw it when nations joined to create the African Continental Free Trade Area, a momentous step towards a single market of 1.4 billion people.”
She stated that African politics can be more than a struggle for power.
”The theme of this summit … speaks to the reality that politics, when divorced from the pursuit of wellbeing, becomes empty. Our people do not ask us to perform politics for its own sake. They deserve politics that translates into food security, decent jobs, functional schools, accessible healthcare, efficient infrastructure, security, and justice,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said.
She emphasized that transformation can only be achieved through trust-building, citizen engagement, and genuine collaboration between political opponents.
The summit brought together representatives from governments, political parties, and international organizations with a common message — that the time for promises is over, and collective action must take precedence if Africa is to achieve meaningful progress.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Africa Governance Centre, Jeff Radebe made a direct call to action, urging political actors to focus on delivery over rhetoric. “The electorates do not eat manifestos and live on political promises,” he stated, emphasizing the need for governments and political parties to put country before party in their policymaking and leadership.
Executive Chair of the Africa Governance Centre, Benedicta Lasi, stressed the interdependence of African states. She warned that any disturbance or economic crisis in one country affects the entire continent, calling for unity, cooperation, and strategic partnerships among political stakeholders across Africa.
Chair of the Summit’s Steering Committee, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, expressed concern about growing youth disillusionment. He said the youth in Africa are losing hope in our democratic system, urging leaders to unlock the potential of Africa’s young population and stop suppressing their voices. He cautioned governments and political parties against suppressing the will of the very people they are meant to serve.
The summit also received messages of solidarity from the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting a growing global commitment to intercontinental cooperation in promoting governance, peace, and prosperity.
The African Political Parties Summit 2025 was spearheaded by the Africa Governance Centre, an independent think tank.
