The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has stated that recent moves inside the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including comments by National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, on his “Thank You” tour, reflect early maneuvers for the party’s next flagbearer race.
Mr. Dankwah believes debates over NDC strategy and internal choices are now largely shaped by succession politics.
Speaking in Tamale on Thursday, May 21, during the tour, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah justified the 2023 shake-up of parliamentary leadership, saying the change was vital to the NDC’s strong win in the 2024 polls.
Asked on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, May 23, whether leadership talk and party arguments tie into the coming presidential primary, Mr. Dankwah said current NDC activities clearly point to future leadership goals, whether the contest lands in 2027 or 2028.
“Yes, I think so. Everything unfolding in the NDC political space targets the 2027 race or 2028, whenever it happens,” he said.
He flagged lingering friction over the 2023 swap that saw Haruna Iddrisu replaced as Minority Leader by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. He noted the issue still drives discussion inside the party and hasn’t faded.
“There’s been an undercurrent on why Haruna was removed in 2023 and they can’t wipe that issue away,” he added.
Mr. Dankwah recalled that leaders framed the reshuffle as a bid to sharpen economic messaging before the 2024 vote. He cited Chairman Asiedu Nketiah’s claim that the adjustment was tactical and crucial for victory.
But he said the move split opinion and sparked internal strain then. Mr. Dankwah questioned fresh claims crediting the reshuffle for the 2024 result, arguing wider national problems decided the outcome.
He said the economy, jobs, education, graft and infrastructure mattered far more to voters.
He stressed the 2024 election centered on John Dramani Mahama versus Mahamudu Bawumia, not House leadership shifts.
Mr. Dankwah cautioned against overstating internal tactics in explaining wins. He also doubted the timing of reviving the reshuffle debate publicly, especially in the north, calling it possibly unwise politically.
“In 2024 it was President Mahama and Bawumia on the ballot. Those were the issues Ghanaians weighed,” he said.Mr. Dankwah concluded that while party calls matter for strategy, voters react to national conditions, not internal parliamentary changes.
