Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has revealed that the landslide victory in the 2024 general elections was partly the result of tough but intentional changes made to its parliamentary leadership, which he believes strengthened the party ahead of the polls.
The NDC, in 2023, reshuffled its parliamentary leadership as part of a broader restructuring exercise that affected both grassroots and national structures. The move saw the removal of the then Minority leadership team led by Haruna Iddrisu.
Under the changes communicated to Parliament in a letter dated January 23, 2023, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, became Minority Leader, replacing Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle, was appointed Deputy Minority Leader, while Kwame Agbodza took over as Minority Whip, succeeding Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.
Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah were named First and Second Deputy Whips, respectively.
Speaking in a video from his Thank You tour in Tamale, shared online by Accra-based Asaase FM, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the restructuring was necessary in the lead-up to the election.
“New things were emerging and I said that we have to change the forward line of Parliament, otherwise it will be difficult for us to win the election,” he said.
He explained that he took on what he described as a “coach” role in guiding the party into the election, even though there was initial disagreement from President John Dramani Mahama regarding the changes.
“You have elected me as Chairman of this party, I am the coach of the party going into the election so let me make the changes that will win us the election,” he recounted.
According to him, the decision sparked tension within the party at the time and was widely misunderstood as personal conflict rather than strategy.
“There was hell and people started thinking that somebody who has been my friend for more than 20 years has suddenly become my enemy,” he said.
Mr. Nketia stressed that the move was purely strategic and aimed at strengthening the party’s chances, not sidelining senior members.
He added that after the election, he advised President Mahama to include experienced figures such as Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak in government, a suggestion the President agreed to.
Following the NDC’s victory, Mr. Iddrisu was appointed Minister for Education, while Mr. Muntaka was appointed Minister for the Interior, which General Mosquito, as he is popularly known, said helped reinforce unity within the party.
He also described the 2024 election result as proof that the strategy worked, urging party members to avoid factional politics and stay united.
“We went into the election, and we won. Have you seen such a victory in Ghana since the beginning of the Fourth Republic? If you are forming groups, Haruna groups, Asiedu Nketia groups, that is not our case. The NDC will continue to be one,” he said.
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