Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, Director of the Democracy Project at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has labeled the escalating public tensions within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a “worrying development” that could jeopardize governance if allowed to intensify. The concerns were raised following a reported strained relationship and recent public exchange between Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Joy FM’s Top Story programme on Monday, May 25.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong cautioned that succession politics, if pursued aggressively, could derail the current administration’s focus and mandate. He warned that prolonged internal divisions risk becoming a significant distraction for the government and could erode public confidence.
“If it continues down this path, if the tensions continue to rise, if there is an internal battle that is going to spill over and start playing out publicly where different personalities would have to take sides, then yes, it is a worrying development, especially when you are also the incumbent party that is governing,” Dr. Osae-Kwapong stated.
He acknowledged that political ambition is a natural element within any governing party. However, he stressed that the timing and method of pursuing such ambitions are critical to preventing unnecessary divisions and maintaining focus on the government’s core responsibilities.
“For me, whatever the underlying issues are or whatever the underlying motives are, whoever is involved or whichever persons are involved in this would want to take a few steps back and think the party first and think the government first,” he urged.
The political analyst emphasized that discussions about who will succeed President John Dramani Mahama should not dominate the political discourse so early in the administration’s term. He believes there is a more appropriate time for such conversations.
“The time to have the succession conversation will come. The time to have quote-unquote that internal battle over who gets to succeed President John Mahama, that time would come, but that time is not now,” Dr. Osae-Kwapong asserted.
He reminded party members and observers that the ultimate assessment of the administration will hinge on its performance and its success in meeting the expectations of Ghanaians, rather than on internal succession struggles.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong elaborated on the common challenge governing parties face in balancing internal political aspirations with the essential task of governance. This balancing act becomes particularly precarious when potential presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves early in a term.
To illustrate this point, he referenced the approach of former President John Agyekum Kufuor during his tenure. Ahead of the 2008 elections, Kufuor reportedly encouraged party members with presidential ambitions within his government to step aside to allow the administration to concentrate on governing.
“If you think back to former President Kufuor, one of the things he urged in the party as they were getting close to 2008 was that if you are still in my government but you have political ambitions, feel free to step aside so those of us can focus on governing,” Dr. Osae-Kwapong recalled.
He argued for the necessity of clear guidelines from party leadership to regulate the conduct of ambitious party figures and mitigate rising tensions. Such guidelines, he suggested, could help manage internal political dynamics effectively.
“The leadership of the party has to find a way to communicate that message and find a balance,” he advised, adding that political actors must exercise circumspection in their pursuit of ambition while remaining committed to effective governance.
These comments surface amidst a backdrop of increasing political discourse and speculation within the NDC regarding succession dynamics and future leadership considerations, particularly with the 2028 general election on the horizon. Despite these internal discussions, party officials have publicly reiterated their commitment to focusing on governance and fulfilling their electoral promises.
The unfolding internal dynamics within the NDC will be closely watched to see if the party leadership can effectively manage these ambitions and maintain a cohesive focus on governance, or if the succession debate will continue to overshadow the administration’s agenda. The ability of the party to navigate these challenges will likely influence public perception and its prospects in future elections.
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