National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah says the party’s emphatic victory in the 2024 general elections was partly due to a bold restructuring of its parliamentary leadership ahead of the polls.
The NDC in 2023 reshuffled its Minority leadership in Parliament, replacing the Haruna Iddrisu-led front bench as part of what the party described as a broader reorganisation strategy aimed at strengthening its electoral fortunes.
Under the changes announced in a January 23, 2023 letter to Parliament, Cassiel Ato Forson was appointed Minority Leader to replace Haruna Iddrisu, while Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah succeeded James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader. Kwame Governs Agbodza was also named Minority Whip, with Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah serving as First and Second Deputy Whips respectively.
Speaking in Tamale on Friday, May 22, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah said the party had to take difficult strategic decisions to remain electorally competitive.
“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 stated.
According to him, he had to act decisively as chairman and “coach” of the party, despite initial disagreements over the move, including concerns raised by President John Dramani Mahama.
“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.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah acknowledged that the reshuffle generated internal tensions and public speculation, with some interpreting the decision as a personal fallout between himself and Haruna Iddrisu.
“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, insisting the decision was purely strategic and not personal.
He stressed that the objective was to reposition the NDC for victory rather than sideline experienced members of the party.
Following the elections, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah said he advised President Mahama to include seasoned party figures such as Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak in government appointments to preserve party unity.
Both men were subsequently appointed to senior government positions after the NDC’s electoral victory.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah described the 2024 election outcome as one of the NDC’s strongest performances under the Fourth Republic.
“We went into the election, and we won. Have you seen such victory in Ghana since the beginning of the Fourth Republic?” he asked.
He also cautioned party supporters against factionalism within the NDC.
“If you are forming groups—Haruna groups, Asiedu Nketiah groups—that is not our case. The NDC will continue to be one,” he said.
He emphasised that while disagreements are inevitable in politics, party unity remains critical to sustaining electoral success and effective governance.
