National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has urged party members and government officials to exercise restraint in speculating about who might succeed President John Mahama, warning that early maneuvering could destabilize both the party and the administration.
Speaking on ongoing discussions within political circles about succession, Mr. Nketiah made it clear that the party has not declared any position regarding who would lead the NDC after President Mahama completes his term.
He cautioned against what he described as premature expressions of ambition that risk undermining the government’s focus and effectiveness.
“The party has not declared anything. But you see, I have been monitoring this whole discussion about who is running and who is not running for the presidency on the ticket of the NDC, and I keep repeating my caution that we have to be very, very careful about the way we express our ambitions”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
He explained that whoever eventually succeeds President Mahama will build upon the government’s achievements, and therefore any conduct that weakens the administration would be self-defeating.
“So in your effort to succeed President Mahama, if you conduct yourself in ways that will disrupt the activities of this government, in ways that will make the government less successful, then you have a bigger problem even when you become a flag bearer”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Shifting Party’s Energy to Succession Struggles Unwise
The NDC Chairman emphasized that President Mahama has been in office for only eight months, making it unwise to shift the party’s energy away from governance to succession struggles.
According to him, the individuals whose names have been floated as possible successors, including his own, currently hold very sensitive positions in both government and the party.
He warned that if such figures allowed succession politics to dominate their actions, it could paralyze governance.
“If all of us decide today that, well, people say I can be president, so let me start organizing, then everybody will be going across the country, appointing campaign coordinators here, there, and so on. How do you think that President Mahama can keep the party and government together and focus on achieving anything?”
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Mr. Nketiah gave a scenario to illustrate the danger of premature ambition. He noted that if ministers and other key officials put personal ambition above collective responsibility, their work would suffer.
“If you are a minister and you are overtaken by your desire to be a president, you won’t perform as a minister. Everything you do will be to satisfy your ambition as a minister. In our situation, it is worse because you hear about a chief of staff also being mentioned. So if it turns out to be true, the chief of staff is establishing his structures, making money to prepare for the election.
“His ministers working under him are doing the same thing, and his party chairman is doing the same thing. How would President Mahama be able to put these things together for us? President Mahama, he’ll be naked.”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Severe Consequence
For him, the political consequences of destabilizing the government less than a year into Mahama’s administration would be severe. He argued that the party’s chances of re-election would be badly affected if the government failed because of internal divisions.
“So if we are naked and we destroy the government less than a year into President Mahama’s regime, how is anybody who eventually succeeds going to have sufficient basis to tell Ghanaians that vote for us?”
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Wrong Signals to Ghanaians
Beyond electoral consequences, Mr. Nketiah cautioned that the wrong signals would be sent to the public if the party were seen as more interested in individual power than in national progress.
“Then what are we telling Ghanaians? We are telling Ghanaians that we are not interested in their welfare. We are interested in getting power. So this one has got his. I’m the next to get. So I don’t care whether he succeeds or not. So that is why I keep advising party members that we have to be careful”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
He underlined that the success of President Mahama’s administration would be critical in shaping the political fortunes of the NDC in future elections.
“If the government succeeds very well, whoever we put there would have an advantage over NPP. But if the government doesn’t succeed, and NPP would like any day to help us disrupt Mahama’s programs, in fact… so that they benefit.”
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Mr. Nketiah therefore urged restraint and discipline within the party, warning against the temptation to use positions of power as tools for personal political advancement.
“We have to be careful not to begin appointing coordinators, not to begin looking at our various positions as a means of mobilizing resources or controlling power to be able to further our political ambitions.
“Because it is very dangerous. If everybody conceives their positions as a way to mine resources to further their political ambition, we cannot handle the scandals that will come very soon”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
His remarks serve as a reminder that while leadership succession is inevitable, the stability of the current government and the party’s credibility with the electorate must remain paramount.
For the NDC National Chairman, the immediate priority is ensuring that President Mahama’s administration delivers on its mandate, creating a solid foundation upon which any future candidate can confidently stand.
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