Suspend Presidential Ambitions and Focus on Mahama’s Success — Gbande Urges NDC Members

Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mustapha Gbande, has called on party members with presidential aspirations to put their ambitions on hold and concentrate on supporting President John Dramani Mahama in delivering on his mandate.

Speaking on Face to Face on Tuesday, May 12, Gbande warned that early campaigning and positioning for the party’s future flagbearer race could distract the government from its core responsibilities and weaken its performance.

He pointed out that the NDC administration has only been in office for about 15 months, making discussions about future presidential succession premature.

According to him, attempts by individuals within the party to promote themselves for future leadership roles at this stage could interfere with President Mahama’s efforts to govern effectively and meet the expectations of citizens.

Gbande stressed that the party’s priority should instead be centred on governance, job creation, and fulfilling campaign promises in order to maintain public trust and improve the NDC’s prospects in future elections.

He maintained that internal political competition should be deferred until the government has established a strong record in office.

He further stated that no individual is greater than the party and warned that the NDC would take action against any conduct deemed distracting to the government’s mandate, regardless of the person involved.

Gbande described ongoing discussions and activities linked to future flagbearer contests as unnecessary distractions that could undermine the administration’s focus.

He insisted that attention should remain on helping the Mahama government succeed rather than speculating about potential successors.

Referring to ongoing conversations within political circles, he argued that debates about whether certain senior party figures are interested in the presidency are not relevant at this stage of the government’s tenure.

His remarks come amid increasing speculation surrounding possible succession ambitions within the governing party.

Recent discussions have focused on claims that Johnson Asiedu Nketiah may be using his ongoing “Thank You Tour” to subtly position himself for future internal contests.

Similarly, Julius Debrah has also been linked to rumours of possible presidential ambitions, with some observers suggesting his widely publicised health walks may be helping to build political visibility and grassroots support.

However, Gbande cautioned that such developments could create divisions within the party if not carefully managed.

He therefore appealed to the party’s Council of Elders to help maintain discipline and ensure members remain focused on supporting the success of the Mahama administration rather than pursuing personal political interests.

According to him, the collective responsibility of party members should be to assist the government in improving the lives of Ghanaians and strengthening the NDC’s mandate in office.