The recent decision by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), communicated by its General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, requiring all persons seeking to contest party offices while holding government appointments—excluding board memberships—to resign at least six months before filing nominations, is a highly commendable move that addresses long-standing structural challenges within party governance.

There has long been a mistaken impression that once a political party wins power and forms a government, the practical work of the party comes to an end. This assumption is both erroneous and strategically dangerous.

Political parties do not exist only to win elections; they exist to continuously mobilise, organise, and deepen political engagement, whether in opposition or in government. For this reason, it is crucial that the running of government be clearly separated from the running of the party.

The Problem of Dual Roles

Over the years, the failure to clearly decouple party work from government responsibilities has led to situations where individuals simultaneously hold party offices and government appointments.

This arrangement has repeatedly proven problematic. As the biblical principle in Matthew 6:24 reminds us, “No one can serve two masters.” In practice, one role inevitably suffers from neglect, reduced effectiveness, or lack of impact.

Government appointees who also hold party offices often find it impossible to give both responsibilities the attention they deserve. The result is weakened governance, weakened party organisation, or both.

As aptly stated by NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey:

“It is an issue of reducing the level of greed. If you want to work for the Party, you leave your position in government. You can't have one leg here, and another there.”

Risk of Corruption and Unfair Competition

Another critical concern is the heightened risk of corruption. Government appointees pursuing party office may be tempted to misuse state resources to finance internal party campaigns.

This creates two serious problems:

  1. Damage to government credibility, especially when corruption scandals emerge.

  2. An uneven playing field within the party, where ordinary party members are unfairly disadvantaged against candidates with access to state resources.

Such dynamics ultimately harm both the government and the party—but history shows that the party often suffers the greater long-term damage.

Why the Directive Matters

Political parties need individuals who are fully committed to party organisation, grassroots mobilisation, and internal democracy. That level of dedication is impossible when attention is divided between party duties and government responsibilities.

By enforcing a clear separation between party office and government appointment, the NDC’s leadership is taking a principled step toward strengthening internal discipline, fairness, and effectiveness.

For these reasons, the directive by Fifi Kwetey deserves strong commendation. It reflects a growing recognition that strong parties make strong governments, and that the two must be allowed to function independently to achieve lasting political success.