ABRAKADABRA!

The phoenix is a mystical bird that revives itself from its own ashes after burning itself to death. It is a powerful symbol of rebirth, resilience, and renewal. Today, that metaphor fittingly describes the state of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Party has just gone through a moment of near self-destruction in its attempt to rebuild for the next political battle in 2028. What should have been restricted to an intellectual and forward-looking exercise, regrettably got laced with trappings of an insult-trading banter. Instead of presenting ideas and visions to convince the electorate that the NPP deserves another mandate, some contestants encouraged their supporters to hurl needless insults at opponents, many of them unprintable and unbecoming of a party that prides itself on democratic values.

Never in the history of the Fourth Republic has a primary contest been perceived by many observers as this divisive and dirty. The internal cracks were laid bare for all to see, handing political ammunition to opponents and weakening public confidence in the party’s sense of discipline and unity.

Now, the contest is over. A winner has emerged, as expected. This is no longer the time for factional triumphalism or quiet resentment. This is the moment for the NPP to revive itself from its ashes and how the new leader of the Party is would perform that magic is the immediate task.

But one thing is certain: the process of resurrection is delicate. One bad move, one miscalculated step, one slip of the tongue in uttering the political “abrakadabra” could result in a deformed outcome, an entity reborn, yes, but weak, divided, and incapable of winning the trust of the Ghanaian voter.

To avoid that fate, and to emerge instead as a beautiful, strong, and energetic reincarnation with the true characteristics of the phoenix, it will take more than slogans, rallies, and jamborees. It will require humility in victory, magnanimity in leadership, and genuine reconciliation across all camps within the party.

This is the time for cool heads to lead. The time for bridge-builders, not fire-starters. The time for honest reflection, not blame-shifting. Unity must not be reduced to a catchphrase; it must be deliberately practiced through inclusive decision-making, respectful language, and a shared commitment to the larger goal of national service.

The ashes are still warm. The nation is watching. Whether the NPP rises again like the phoenix, or remains trapped in the remnants of its own internal fires, will depend on the choices it makes now.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The author, Socrate Safo is a Ghanaian Film Director. He worked as a Creative Arts director at the National Commission on Culture.