A “thank-you tour” announced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is stirring a storm of controversy within the party, with critics suggesting that the three-day program is less about gratitude and more about positioning for a future presidential bid.
The tour, set to take place from September 17 to 19, 2025, across 16 constituencies in the Eastern Region, is being officially marketed as a follow-up appreciation effort on behalf of the NDC. Party officials say it is meant to recognize the contributions of executives, cadres, and grassroots organizers who worked tirelessly for the NDC’s victory in the 2024 elections.
But that explanation is being met with sharp skepticism. Party insiders and sources close to the Presidency view the initiative as a thinly disguised early campaign launch by Asiedu Nketia, widely seen as harboring presidential ambitions for the 2028 elections.
The controversy stems largely from the fact that former President John Dramani Mahama, who led the NDC to victory in 2024, already completed an extensive nationwide “thank-you tour” just two months earlier, in July 2025. According to many within the party, this makes another appreciation tour not only redundant but politically suspicious.
“This is about optics and positioning,” one Eastern Regional party source told reporters. “By moving around the country under the NDC banner, Chairman Nketia is effectively testing the waters and cementing his presence in constituencies ahead of 2028.”
Friction Between Party and Government
The move has also rattled the Presidency, where some senior government officials view the tour as ill-timed. They argue that the NDC government’s immediate priority should be on stabilizing the economy and fulfilling campaign promises, rather than entertaining succession politics barely a year into its term.
“Whatever the fortunes of the NDC will be in 2028 depends squarely on government performance now,” a source close to the Presidency emphasized. “For the next two years at least, all focus should be on delivery, not campaign maneuvering. Chairman Nketia’s tour risks becoming a distraction.”
This divergence of priorities is reportedly widening a rift between the Presidency and the party leadership, fueling concerns of internal division.
Full Itinerary of the Tour
Despite the criticism, the itinerary remains packed, signaling a high-profile show of strength:Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Asuogyamang, Lower Manya, Upper Manya, Yilo, and Okere.
Thursday, September 18, 2025: Akuapem North, Akuapem South, Nsawam, Upper West Akim, and Asamankese.Friday, September 19, 2025: Akroso, Achiase, Swedru, Akim Oda, Kade, and Akwatia.
Each stop is expected to feature rallies, closed-door meetings, and community engagements. Attendees will include constituency and branch executives, former party officers, coordinators, cadres, chiefs, assembly members, as well as influential groups such as the Drivers’ Union
Analysts Weigh In
Political analysts say the unfolding drama underscores the delicate balance between party politics and governance. With Mahama constitutionally barred from contesting again after 2028, the race for his successor is already quietly in motion. Asiedu Nketia, a long-time strategist and kingmaker in the NDC, is increasingly being seen as a contender who could attempt to transition from party chairman to presidential candidate.The tour’s reception—both from the grassroots and the general public—will be closely watched. If embraced warmly by local structures, it could strengthen Asiedu Nketia’s hand in the looming internal contest. If resisted, it risks deepening factional tensions in a party that only recently returned to power.
For now, the “thank-you tour” has become more than a courtesy call—it is shaping up as a litmus test for unity, discipline, and ambition within the NDC.Source :YAW OBENG MANU
