Chairman of Somaliland’s ruling Waddani Party, Hersi Ali H. Hassan, has proudly represented the Republic of Somaliland at the ongoing 8th Africa Political Summit and Democracy Awards in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Leading a high-level delegation, Chairman Hersi addressed the continental conference organised by the Association of Political Consultants – Africa (APC-Africa) at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA). The summit, which focuses on “Reinventing Political Campaigns: Strategy, Technology, Resourcing and Grassroots Mobilisation,” has gathered senior political leaders from across the continent.
In a powerful speech, Chairman Hersi delivered warm greetings from Hargeisa to Accra and emphasised that African democracy needs better listening rather than imported solutions.
“Africa is not short of democracy. Africa is short of listening,” he told delegates. “If we must reinvent anything, let us reinvent how we listen to our people.”
He shared two key lessons from Somaliland’s democratic journey. First, the enduring power of grassroots mobilisation:
“In 2021 and again in 2024, Waddani Party spent less on billboards and more on town halls. We knocked on doors. We sat under trees. We listened to mothers worried about school fees and to youth who have never seen a job,” he said.
“Data can target a voter. But only trust can turn out a voter… Technology is an amplifier. It is not a substitute for human contact. The future of African campaigns will be high-tech, but it must remain high-touch.”
Second, he stressed the primacy of peace:
“You cannot resource a campaign before you resource peace. Somaliland has held one person-one-vote elections since 2002 with limited funding and no external recognition. We resourced peace first, and politics second… The cheapest campaign is one held in a stable country. The most expensive campaign is one that follows conflict.”
Chairman Hersi praised Ghana’s successful democratic practice of peaceful power alternation and called for home-grown African democratic models.
“Our democracy will be African – invented daily by Africans, accountable to Africans,” he declared.
“We are all laboratories. And the world should stop sending us imported blueprints.”
The high-profile engagement comes just days before Somaliland’s National Day on 18 May. In a statement on his official Facebook page, Chairman Hersi expressed pride in Waddani’s growing international relations:
“We are delighted that the ruling Waddani Party is forging strong ties with ruling parties in the Horn of Africa, across the continent, and the world at large.”
The summit featured prominent figures including Territope Ajoyi (Secretary General, APC-Africa), Prof. John Kwaku (Vice Chancellor, UPSA), and representatives from Ghana’s major political parties:
Hon. Johnson Nketia (NDC), Hon. Danquah Smith (NPP), and Samson Akasi (PNC).
Chairman Hersi’s participation underscores Waddani’s commitment to strategic alliances, modern campaign tools, and people-centred politics rooted in peace and grassroots trust.
Read the full speech here: Solidarity Speech Ghana 2026 2