Membership of political parties is voluntary, and members come from all segments of society, including discipline-conscious institutions such as educational, religious, professional, and traditional bodies. Consequently, tolerating indiscipline within a political party can gradually weaken the party, although the extent of the damage depends on the nature of the misconduct and how the party responds to it.
What many people fail to appreciate is that political parties rely on shared rules, agreed procedures, and collective decision-making to bind members together. When some members repeatedly disregard those rules without consequences, several problems arise, including but not limited to:
- Erosion of authority: Party leaders and governing bodies lose authority and credibility when rules are enforced selectively to favour a few individuals or are not enforced at all.
- Internal divisions: Members may form competing factions, making it more difficult for the party to present a united front.
- Lower morale: Members who obey the rules and conduct themselves in ways that enhance the party’s image may become demoralised when others openly violate the party’s rules without facing any consequences.
- Negative public perception: The electorate may perceive the party as weak, disorganised, inconsistent, or incapable of governing itself. They may reasonably question whether a party that condones indiscipline within its own ranks can build a disciplined society or effectively fight corruption.
- Reduced electoral effectiveness: Tolerating indiscipline fuels internal conflicts, diverting the party’s attention from campaigning, policy development, and voter outreach.
Being aware of these risks, strong political parties typically combine robust internal democracy with fair, firm, and consistent enforcement of their rules. The NPP finds itself at a defining moment. The party must decide whether to make disciplined members comfortable and indisciplined members uncomfortable or the other way around.
Politics is ultimately a game of numbers. However, indisciplined members tend to attract more indisciplined people, making the party less attractive to disciplined individuals in society. Conversely, a disciplined party naturally attracts people who respect shared rules and collective responsibility. Over time, such a party is better positioned to instil discipline in society through the example it sets and the values it promotes.
As I conclude, I wish to point out that a party that tolerates indiscipline within its ranks exposes itself to infiltration by opponents who may deliberately plant disruptive individuals to undermine the party’s reputation, unity, and public image.
The points I have raised above explain why every serious political party around the world establishes disciplinary committees responsible for enforcing the party’s rules fairly and consistently at every level of the organisation.
Hon. Joseph Cudjoe,
Former MP, Effia Constituency,
Fmr. Dep. Minister, Energy
Fmr. Minister, Public Enterprises.
#MEN@WORK
