The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), despite the plaudits it has received for its governance after a year in power, appears to be at a crossroads over recent happenings in the party.
However, the issues that have come up over the past few months appear to test the resolve of the party and perhaps threaten its unity ahead of the 2028 general election.
These issues have arisen either due to decisions taken by the national leaders of the NDC, the government, or its leadership in Parliament, which have been heavily criticised by members of the party.
Here are four of the happenings that can either make or break the NDC.
Ayawaso East primaries:
The most recent happening in the NDC that poses a threat to the party’s unity has to do with the parliamentary primaries for the Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.
Calls for the annulment of the primaries, won by former Ambassador to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, over allegations of vote buying, by the NDC Members of Parliament, has been greeted with anger by party supporters.
Members of the party, particularly the executives of the constituency have expressed discontentment over the matter.
President Mahama recalls Baba Jamal/a>
The Greater Accra Regional Organiser of the NDC, Anthony Nukpenu, for instance, has criticised the Majority Leader and members of his caucus, who issued a statement demanding the results of the primaries be annulled and the defaulting candidate disqualified from the rerun of the election.
Nukpenu said that the NDC legislators have no locus to make such a demand, arguing that their actions undermine the authority of the party’s leadership.
Ban on govt appointees taking political party positions:
Another matter that has brought some discomfort within the NDC is the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to bar government appointees from contesting for party positions.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, stated that government appointees who wish to contest party positions in the party’s National Executive elections, scheduled for December 2026, must resign from their government offices.
He explained that the directive is part of the measures implemented by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). Government appointees who intend to hold party positions are required to resign at least six clear months before submitting their nomination forms.
“The affected officers include, but are not limited to, ministers and deputy ministers; chief executive officers, their deputies or analogous officers; Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives,” he said.
This decision has seen a lot of push back within the NDC, with many arguing that it would lead to the party losing some of its executives, who played vital roles in its victory in the 2024 election.
‘Bootlicking of the highest order’ – Fifi Kwetey descends on NDC members calling for a 3rd term for Mahama
Fight against galamsey:
The order by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, for the National Organiser of the NDC, Joseph Yamin, and its Vice Chairman, Abanga Yakubu Alhassan, to be investigated after they were accused of engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) caused some disaffection within the party.
The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has expressed his disappointment with the National Organiser of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, whom President John Mahama directed should be investigated over allegations of illegal mining.
Speaking in a recent interview on UTV, Mustapha Gbande, who is also the Deputy National Organiser of the NDC, took issue with certain elements, who he hinted were behind the ordeal of Yamin.
He warned that, unlike the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which he says did nothing to stop the “bad” things that happened under the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, the NDC will not look on while similar things happen.
Mahama 3rd term agenda:
The calls for the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to be amended so that President John Dramani Mahama would be able to run for the presidency for a third term have also caused some disagreement within the party.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, descended heavily on proponents within the party calling for a third term for President John Dramani Mahama, describing party members making such calls as “sycophants” and “boot lickers” who only want the favour of the President.
“These days, it saddens me when I see so much sycophancy creeping into our party.
I see a group of people who, obviously, from every indication, believe that singing the praises of a leader is the only way they can survive.
“And that’s why you hear some of those people even urging statements like there should be a 3rd term. It says nothing but sycophancy, pure sycophancy and boot licking of the highest order,” he fumed.
Supporters of the party also slammed the General Secretary for his opposition to the possibility of Mahama running for a third term.
BAI/VPO
One of the prophets who accurately predicted Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s NPP flagbearer win had a sit down with GhanaWeb. Watch it below:
Watch as Oforikrom MP sets record straight on alleged abandonment of Afenyo Markin by NPP MPs
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
