Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on Ghanaians to uphold the ideals of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), saying the values championed by the party’s founders should continue to guide the country’s democratic governance and guarantee freedom without fear or persecution.

In a speech delivered on his behalf during a ceremony in Axim on Monday, August 4, to commemorate the founding of the UGCC, Dr Bawumia said the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition was built on enduring principles that extend beyond political rhetoric and should shape the country’s leadership and public institutions.

“Through Danquah, Busia, Dombo and those who stood with them, that tradition came to represent certain firm ideas: respect for the individual, government under law, democratic accountability, private enterprise, social responsibility and a Ghana held together by equal citizenship,” he said.

Dr Bawumia stressed that these principles must remain relevant in practice rather than merely being celebrated in history.

“These values were never meant to be framed and hung on a wall. They were meant to guide public choices,” he stated.

According to him, the concept of freedom envisioned by the UGCC goes beyond the right to vote and includes the protection of fundamental rights and liberties.

“Freedom, for example, is not only the freedom to vote. It is the freedom to speak without fear, to worship according to one’s conscience, to build a lawful business, and to expect fair treatment from the State,” he said.

Touching on the rule of law, the former Vice President said justice must be applied fairly and equally to every citizen, regardless of status or social standing.

“The rule of law is not a phrase for lawyers. It is the assurance that a poor person and a powerful person will meet the same law,” he noted.

Dr Bawumia also reiterated his belief in private enterprise as a driver of national development, arguing that creating opportunities and a fair economic environment enables citizens to build prosperity.

“Enterprise is not indifference to hardship. It is the belief that when people are given opportunity, skills and a fair system, they can create prosperity for themselves and for others,” he said.

He maintained that while the ideals of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition remain timeless, they must be reflected in the conduct of political leaders and institutions if they are to retain public confidence.

“Those ideas remain relevant. But if we want Ghanaians to believe that they still define us, they must be visible in the way we behave, the way we organize and the solutions we offer,” he added.

The event formed part of activities marking UGCC Founding Day, which the NPP observes annually to reflect on the legacy of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition and its contribution to Ghana’s democratic development.

Dr Bawumia concluded by urging leaders to ensure that democracy delivers meaningful benefits by safeguarding individual rights, promoting equal justice and creating economic opportunities for all citizens.