By Daniel Bampoe
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, after refusing to rule out a bid for the party’s 2027 presidential primary, declaring that every politician must have ambition and insisting that he will make his intentions known “when the time is up.”
His latest comments, made during an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express, have reignited conversations surrounding his long-rumoured presidential ambitions, coming months after his nationwide “Thank You Tour,” repeated warnings against a third-term agenda for President John Dramani Mahama, and increasing public discussion over who will eventually succeed the President as leader of the NDC.
For months, political observers have speculated that Asiedu Nketiah—popularly known as “General Mosquito”—has quietly been positioning himself for the post-Mahama era.
Those conversations intensified after he embarked on extensive nationwide engagements with party supporters under what was officially described as a “Thank You Tour,” a move some analysts interpreted as an effort to consolidate grassroots support ahead of the NDC’s next internal presidential contest.
The tour itself generated considerable debate because it coincided with President Mahama’s own nationwide “Resetting Ghana Tour.” While the NDC leadership maintained that the two engagements served different purposes, critics argued that the parallel tours created perceptions of competing centres of influence within the governing party.
Supporters of Asiedu Nketiah, however, defended the exercise as part of his constitutional responsibility as National Chairman to reconnect with the party’s grassroots after the 2024 electoral victory.
The National Chairman also found himself at the centre of intense internal political discussions after publicly criticised what he described as the growing disconnect between government appointees and the party’s grassroots, urging office holders not to neglect the rank-and-file members who worked for the NDC’s return to power.
Those remarks sparked reactions from several senior party figures and further heightened speculation about succession politics within the governing party.
Another issue that thrust Asiedu Nketiah into the national spotlight was the controversy surrounding suggestions that President Mahama could seek another presidential term.
As speculation mounted following legal challenges before the Supreme Court over constitutional term limits, Asiedu Nketiah firmly rejected any suggestion that the NDC intended to pursue a third-term agenda for President Mahama.
He repeatedly stated that the party remained committed to Ghana’s Constitution and insisted that no one, including President Mahama, would contest for a third presidential term.
Many political observers interpreted that firm stance as an indication that the race to succeed President Mahama had effectively begun within the NDC, particularly as several senior government and party officials—including Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and Asiedu Nketiah himself—have been widely mentioned in political discussions as potential flagbearer hopefuls.
Speaking on PM Express, Asiedu Nketiah neither confirmed nor denied that he intends to contest the presidential primary. Instead, he repeatedly stressed that ambition is an essential part of politics and that any serious politician without ambition is in the wrong profession.
“Ambition is a very, very useful thing in politics. If you are a politician and you have no ambition, you are in the wrong profession,” he said.
Pressed repeatedly on whether he wanted to become President, the veteran politician declined to give a direct answer, saying he would only declare his intentions when the appropriate constitutional time arrives.
“I have told you how I exercise it. When the time is up for me to declare it, I will declare it,” he stated.
Using a colourful analogy, Asiedu Nketiah compared political ambition to pregnancy, arguing that it cannot remain hidden forever.
“How do you hide pregnancy?” he asked, before explaining that anyone seeking elective office must eventually make their intentions public because voters cannot support a candidate whose ambition remains secret.
“When the time comes, I’ll let everybody know. You cannot hide your ambition and expect people to vote for you.” He further explained that the offices available to him within the NDC remain numerous, insisting that nothing legally prevents him from seeking any position within the party.
“I can choose to become National Organiser. I can choose to become General Secretary again. I can decide to remain National Chairman. I can decide to go back to Parliament. I can decide to be the presidential candidate. All these are options that are open.”
When the interviewer suggested that his refusal to categorically deny presidential ambition appeared to confirm he intended to contest, Asiedu Nketiah smiled and declined to be drawn further into the discussion.
“There will be nothing wrong with that if I did. Guessing is also part of the game. Keep guessing,” he responded.
His carefully measured answers are likely to further intensify speculation over the NDC’s post-Mahama succession race, even as the party’s Council of Elders has previously cautioned members against premature presidential campaigning and urged all potential aspirants to focus on supporting the Mahama administration until the National Executive Committee officially opens nominations for the 2027 presidential primaries.
Although Asiedu Nketiah has still stopped short of making an official declaration, his latest interview leaves little doubt that he considers every major office within the NDC—including the party’s presidential candidacy—as a legitimate option when the constitutional timetable permits.
Until then, the National Chairman appears determined to keep both party members and political observers guessing about his next move.
