National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has defended the party’s controversial leadership reshuffle in Parliament ahead of the 2024 general elections, insisting the changes were necessary to secure victory for the party.
Speaking during a visit to Tamale in the Northern Region, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah revealed that he had strongly pushed for a reorganisation of the NDC’s parliamentary front despite opposition from the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.
According to him, the party needed a new strategy and leadership structure in Parliament to strengthen its electoral chances against the governing party.
“We have to change the forward line of our leaders in Parliament otherwise it will be difficult to win the 2024 election,” he stated.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah disclosed that when he first proposed the changes, Mr. Mahama disagreed with him. However, he insisted that as National Chairman, he had the responsibility to take bold decisions in the interest of the party.
“When I told John Mahama, he disagreed with me, but I told him I have been elected as chairman of the party and I am the GOAT of the party going into the 2024 election,” he said.
The NDC Chairman explained that the reshuffle was intended to reposition the party ahead of the elections and ensure a stronger political strategy.
“So let’s make the changes going into the election. When we win, we will all enjoy,” he added.The changes eventually saw senior parliamentary figures including Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak stepping aside from their leadership positions to make way for a new parliamentary leadership team.
Defending the decision, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah likened politics to a football match, arguing that a coach must sometimes reorganise his squad to secure victory.
“Since I made that changes, I said Haruna, Muntaka step aside for new leadership and sit and watch. I am the GOAT and I must watch how our opponents are playing, so I have to arrange my team for us to go into the election and win,” he stressed.
He further touted the NDC’s performance in the 2024 elections, describing the party’s victory as unprecedented in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
“That victory NDC got in the 2024 election — have you seen some before in the Fourth Republic?” he quizzed supporters amid cheers.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah’s comments are expected to reignite debate within political circles over the NDC’s parliamentary reshuffle and the internal disagreements that preceded the party’s electoral campaign strategy.
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