Tuesday night’s PM Express interview was a timely reminder that politics is not always won by the loudest voice. More often than not, it is won by the sharpest mind.
For nearly two hours, General Johnson Asiedu Nketia held the nation spellbound with a captivating blend of facts, wit, humour, and decades of political experience. The biggest criticism of the interview had nothing to do with its content but simply that it ended too soon. Time seemed to disappear as viewers watched a politician who was as comfortable explaining economic fundamentals as he was delivering political jabs with effortless precision.
Then came the real post-match analysis, the comment section, where every Ghanaian suddenly became a political commentator.
The verdicts were fascinating.
One admirer described him as one of the NDC’s greatest assets. Another boldly argued that he should have been a lawyer because of the precision with which he dissected arguments and dismantled opposing positions. Others declared the interview a “technical knockout” by the General to critical issues, while some even suggested it should be translated into Ghanaian languages so that more citizens could appreciate what they considered a masterclass in political communication.
But perhaps the moment that generated the loudest laughter came when Chairman jokingly volunteered to serve as the Acting National Chairman of the NPP because, in his estimation, they appeared to be in desperate need of one. It was classic Asiedu Nketia delivered with a smile, humour wrapped around a political punchline.
Soon, the accolades poured in.
GOAT. Institution. National Asset. Professor of Ghana Politics.
At that point, one almost expected Parliament to suspend business and confer on him an honorary doctorate in Political Engineering, with a minor in Strategic Humour.
Yet beneath the applause lies an important democratic lesson. Admiration should never replace accountability. The strongest democracies are built when great politicians are celebrated for their brilliance and equally held accountable for their shortcomings. Respect and scrutiny are not enemies; they are partners in democratic governance.
Still, one conclusion is difficult to escape. Some politicians campaign. Some govern. A rare few educate while doing both.
On Tuesday night, Johnson Asiedu Nketia did more than answer questions. He transformed a television interview into a political classroom, reminding Ghanaians that experience is not measured by age but by wisdom, preparation, and the ability to command both the conversation and the audience.
Whether one calls him General, Professor, Institution, or GOAT, one truth remains difficult to dismiss: in Ghana’s political classroom, many speak, but only a few teach. Judging by the night’s performance, the Professor without a lecture hall still has a full class and no empty seats.
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