Author: Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, Democracy and Development Fellow, CDD-Ghana, and Project Director, the Democracy Project

Our 4^th Republic is thirty-three years old. It is a multiparty democracy dominated by two strong competitive political parties – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The two parties have cultivated a strong following of Ghanaians who lend them support with passion. That is the beauty of democracy. As my mother often says to me, “No political party will survive without a core following of citizens willing to lend them unflinching support.”

Partisans, first and foremost, are citizens. They are therefore entitled to the same rights as their fellow citizens who do not wear partisan labels. In public spaces, all citizens – partisan or nonpartisan-have a legitimate right to express moral outrage on matters of good governance. When and how they do it is entirely a matter of personal choice.

In principle, I have regularly argued that there is nothing wrong with partisanship. In practice, it is the weaponization of partisanship as a political tool and its deployment sometimes against one’s own fellow citizens that I find worrisome. Nonetheless, in a multiparty democracy, partisanship is inevitable. Our task is to guard against its excesses.

Ghana’s Two Main Political Parties

Ghana, since 1992, has held nine successful elections, four of which have resulted in political turnover. This means that prior to the turnover elections in 2024, both parties have been elected to office for a total of sixteen years each.

At the same time, they have each spent a total of sixteen years in opposition. This means Ghanaians have experienced both parties in government and opposition. It is these experiences that put them in an enviable position to make some valid judgments about our two main political parties, even if their partisan supporters disagree.

In the same vein, our political parties and their partisan supporters are also in an enviable position of knowing how it feels to be treated when in government by both citizens and the main opposition. In addition, they also know how it feels to be treated in opposition by the ruling party as well as citizens.

In short, citizens – whether partisan or not, and our political parties – whether ruling or opposition – come to the public square shaped by real lived experiences.

The Moral Outrage of Partisans

In my observations, the moral outrage of partisans is expressed in different ways. In power, it is often directed at two main actors. First, the main opposition political party, whose actions are often described as counterproductive to the efforts of the ruling party, tries to move the country’s development needle forward.

In essence, the main opposition is often viewed as disruptive. Second, it is also directed at citizens whose regular calls for transparency and accountability are viewed as hostile towards the ruling party.

They sometimes may question whether, at the time when their political rivals were in power, the treatment was the same or a different standard (much higher) was applied to them.

In opposition, it is directed at two main actors as well. First, actions of the ruling party are subjected to the highest form of scrutiny with regular calls for transparency and accountability.

In addition, there is very little to no support offered to the ruling party on matters of governance and public policy for varied reasons, some of which are sometimes driven by politics.

Second, it is also directed at citizens, but in a different way. How so? Opposition partisans compare how citizens treated them when they were in power and question whether their political rivals, now in power, are being treated the same way. And when they feel the treatment is “different,” the response to citizens is intriguing to watch.

Unpacking the Puzzle

It is sometimes puzzling trying to unpack and process the moral outrage of partisans on matters of good governance. In quiet reflection, I draw two conclusions. First, it is easy to adopt a dismissive attitude towards the moral outrage expressed by partisans.

And I can see how some citizens may succumb to such temptations. After all, they have observed the revolving door behavior of our partisans when in power compared to the opposition and fully understand the political motivations that fuel their moral outrage.

However, I take a more benevolent view from my experience on how to unpack the puzzle of the moral outrage that partisans feel and express. It teaches me two things. First, that our partisans recognize the importance of adhering to and practicing the principles of good governance.

As to why the dispositions vary when in power versus in opposition is a governance challenge in need of a solution. Second, it teaches me to choose my engagements strategically, ensuring that they offer opportunities for positive dialogue and minimize the potential for adversary.