Paul Adom-Otchere has argued that most splinter movements in Ghana’s political history are driven not by ideological conviction but by “gross political impatience.”
Discussing the issue on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the Good Evening Ghana host traced a long line of breakaway movements , from Goosie Tanoh’s National Reform Party to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’ Democratic Freedom Party — all of which, in his view, lost steam once the elections were over.
“Their relevance is always clothed in the fact that they have broken away from a big party ahead of an election,” he explained. “Once the polls end, they fade.”
Adom-Otchere contended that Ghana’s two dominant political parties, the NDC and NPP, have built such structural and emotional capital that no breakaway can realistically replace them.
He likened their dominance to that of historical blocs like the UP and CPP traditions, arguing that Ghana’s constitution, which lacks proportional representation, has further cemented the duopoly.
He added, however, that electoral reforms might be necessary to encourage smaller political voices.
“Perhaps it’s time to look at a system that gives room for smaller ideas,” he said. “South Africa’s proportional representation model, for example, allowed Julius Malema’s party to thrive. Ghana can learn from that.”
