Asiedu Nketiah denies 'proper thank-you tour' was a 2028 presidential campaign

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman, has firmly rejected suggestions that his nationwide thank-you tour was a concealed campaign to boost his profile ahead of the 2028 presidential election, insisting instead that the exercise was a routine part of his duties to keep the party united.

The tour, which concluded three months ago, had drawn scrutiny from party members and observers who questioned whether it was designed to elevate Asiedu Nketiah's visibility within the party and test the ground for a potential presidential bid. The controversy intensified after Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu described President John Mahama's visit to the Northern Region as "a proper thank-you tour," in what was widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the party chairman's tour.

Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express on Tuesday, Asiedu Nketiah, popularly known as General Mosquito, dismissed critics as either uninformed or deliberately provocative. He emphasised that if the tour had truly been a campaign, it would naturally have culminated in an election—something that has not occurred since he concluded the exercise three months prior.

Defending His Responsibilities as Party Chairman

Asiedu Nketiah argued that his primary duty as National Chairman is to maintain party cohesion and ensure members support the government, particularly since he does not hold a ministerial portfolio. He explained that the tour became necessary after learning of growing frustrations among party supporters regarding government appointments, recruitment processes and other concerns. Some members were reportedly considering staging demonstrations against the NDC administration.

"I thought that I should go down there and quench the fires, and so far, I'm happy that once I went around, all the fires were quenched," he said, framing the tour as a crisis management exercise rather than a political manoeuvre.

When directly asked whether the thank-you tour was intended to present him as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, Asiedu Nketiah flatly rejected the suggestion. He pointed out that every event during the tour was streamed live, yet he never used any platform to promote himself or declare political ambitions. He also questioned the logic of needing a nationwide tour to raise his profile, noting that he is already widely recognised within the party and beyond.

Why it matters for Ghana

Asiedu Nketiah's defence of his tour is significant within Ghana's current political landscape as the NDC government settles into its term following the 2024 elections. Party unity is crucial for the administration's ability to execute its agenda, and tensions over appointments and resource distribution are common in post-election transitions. The chairman's intervention to manage internal grievances reflects broader challenges facing Ghana's political parties in balancing internal democracy with government effectiveness.

The debate also highlights the intensity of informal jostling within the NDC regarding potential 2028 candidates. With President Mahama's tenure well underway, some party figures are already positioning themselves for future leadership contests—a dynamic that could either strengthen party debate or create destabilising factional tensions.

Asiedu Nketiah noted that the tour fulfilled a promise made during the 2024 election campaign, when he visited villages to canvass support for NDC parliamentary candidates. Chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members reportedly welcomed the return visit, viewing it as evidence of the NDC's commitment to keeping its word to communities.

Regarding Haruna Iddrisu's comments, Asiedu Nketiah declined to escalate the dispute, stating that he would not engage in public fights with party members simply because they disagreed with him. However, he suggested that the minister had misunderstood the purpose of the tour, asserting that "even if he was referring to me, it means he got everything wrong on that occasion."