A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has warned that emerging tensions within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over leadership succession could deepen internal divisions following recent comments by the party’s chairman, Asiedu Nketiah about senior party figures including Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, hosted by Moro Awudu, Dr Zaato said the party’s internal cohesion, which he believes was previously strengthened by discipline and a clear leadership structure, is now under pressure.
He argued that under the long-standing influence of former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC benefited from a strong centralised message that helped limit internal competition and unify the party behind a single political direction.
According to him, that structure created what he described as “a semblance of unity” and reduced open rivalry among leading figures.
However, he said the current political environment within the party has changed significantly, with ambitions now resurfacing and internal contestation becoming more visible.
Dr Zaato also pointed to what he described as long-standing conventions within the NDC, including expectations around succession from one vice president to the next.
He referenced the current vice president, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, suggesting that such traditions have historically shaped leadership transitions in the party, even if they are not formally binding.
He warned that the weakening of internal discipline and the rise of competing factions could make the party’s internal politics more difficult to manage in the coming period.
He added that public disagreements among senior figures and differing priorities within government could further complicate cohesion.
Dr Zaato further suggested that the absence of a strong central authority within the party could open space for intensified competition among potential successors, cautioning that unresolved tensions risk becoming more pronounced if not managed through established party structures.
His comments come amid growing public discussion about internal dynamics within the NDC and the role of senior figures in shaping the party’s future direction.
Source: MetroTV
