Asiedu Nketiah appointed inaugural chair of African Political Parties Initiative

National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has been elected Chair of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), following his nomination by an interim committee and unanimous approval by participating political parties across Africa.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah accepted the role at the African Political Parties Summit 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, November 7, describing it as a responsibility he would discharge in collaboration with other leaders of the initiative.

In his acceptance address, he expressed gratitude to the participating political parties and acknowledged the Africa Governance Centre for establishing APPI and bringing political parties across the continent together.

He said the initiative had completed the process of constituting its leadership and was now ready to focus on its work.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who said the NDC had supported APPI from its early stages, called for political parties to look beyond electoral victories and strengthen their capacity to govern effectively.

“Political experience teaches us that power changes hands more quickly than nations change. Those who govern today may sit in opposition tomorrow, and those in opposition may later inherit the institutions they once criticised,” he said.

He argued that political parties must develop the knowledge, institutions and leadership needed to prepare future governments, stressing that the quality of governance is shaped long before political leaders assume public office.

The new APPI Chair said Africa was approaching a period of significant demographic, economic and technological change, requiring political parties to rethink how they prepare for governance.

He cited the continent’s growing population, the millions of young people entering the labour market annually, limited formal job creation and gaps in electricity access as challenges that require long-term political and economic planning.

He also highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence, energy transitions and competition for strategic minerals, technology, investment and skilled labour.

According to him, Africa must move beyond relying on its natural resources and population size and focus on building productive industries, strengthening local businesses and developing the skills of its young people.

He said political parties seeking to govern must understand key sectors such as industry, agriculture, trade, energy, technology and public finance, while developing policy institutions capable of preserving knowledge beyond individual political leaders.

“Electoral victory gives authority. The ability to govern well has to be built before victory comes,” he stated.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah also cautioned against the practice where changes in government lead to the abandonment of useful policies, loss of institutional expertise and disruption of long-term national investments.

He said the development of the APPI Agenda 2040 would be a major priority for the initiative, providing a common framework for political parties to consider the institutions, capabilities and leadership Africa would need in the years ahead.

He explained that the agenda would be shaped by African political parties themselves through consultations across the continent.

He called for greater investment in party schools, policy institutes, research institutions and systems for preserving institutional memory.

He further urged political parties to give women and young people more opportunities to participate in policy development, resource allocation, and decision-making, rather than limiting their roles largely to political mobilisation.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah said APPI would work collectively with the presidents, chairpersons and secretaries-general of participating political parties, regional vice-chairs, the Africa Governance Centre and the initiative’s secretariat to advance its objectives.

He added that the initiative would maintain engagement with political parties and institutions outside Africa to exchange experiences and ideas.

He maintained that African political parties had valuable experience from liberation struggles, democratic transitions, conflict resolution, economic crises and constitutional changes that could contribute to global political discussions.

He said the continent’s growing demographic, economic and strategic importance must translate into productive capacity, prosperity and greater global influence.

“The question is whether that weight will become productive power, prosperity and influence. That will depend in part on the quality of the political institutions we build now,” he said.

He pledged that the inaugural leadership of APPI would work towards building political institutions capable of preparing Africa for the challenges and opportunities beyond the next election cycle.