Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has declared that selecting a successor to President John Dramani Mahama for the 2028 election will not be a challenge for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Mr. Ibrahim, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Banda, the NDC has a strong pool of capable leaders being groomed within government.
Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam, he argued that the current administration is deliberately building a legacy that extends beyond President Mahama’s tenure.
“It is because of the work President Mahama is doing, that is why he wants to leave a legacy, so his party remains in power,” he stated.
He further suggested that President Mahama’s influence is likely to extend beyond Ghana after his tenure in office.
“He will be a continental president; he will go into the highest realm outside Ghana,” he said, suggesting the President could take up a significant international role.
Ahmed Ibrahim pointed to a decline in Ghana’s representation on the global stage, referencing figures such as Kofi Annan and Mohamed Ibn Chambas.
“After Ibn Chambas, Kofi Annan, Alex Kweku (Kwetey) and the rest, we don’t have a lot of Ghanaians at the international front,” he noted, adding, “It is recently that Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey went to the Commonwealth.”
He believes President Mahama could soon join that league of internationally recognised Ghanaian statesmen.
Drawing an analogy, he said: “When we were in school and used to go for interco, you may see someone and think he will be the best jumper, but he ends up disappointing. The real jumpers will cross the mark.”
He insisted that within the current government, there are several individuals capable of stepping up, stressing that the NDC is well-positioned for the future.
“So, choosing Mahama’s successor will not be difficult. The kind of leadership we have at Cabinet and the training he is giving us, we have a pool of people to succeed him,” he stressed.
A recent poll by Global InfoAnalytics showed that NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia continues to lead in what is described as a “top-of-the-mind” baseline assessment of potential candidates.
Asiedu Nketia secured 29% support, followed by Finance Minister and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam MP Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson with 19%, while Tamale South MP and Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu garnered 11%.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang each recorded 8% in the survey.
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