National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has shed light on the reasons behind his ongoing “Thank You Tour,” which has generated both excitement and speculation within political circles.
The three-day tour, running from September 17 to 19, covers 16 constituencies in the Eastern Region.
While officially framed as an appreciation programme to acknowledge the contributions of party executives, cadres, and grassroots organisers toward the NDC’s 2024 victory, some observers believe it may also position Mr Asiedu Nketiah for a future presidential bid.
Speaking to party executives and members in the Akuapem North Constituency, Mr Asiedu Nketiah recounted the strategic division of responsibilities during the 2024 campaign.
According to him, the national executives created three campaign teams—one led by President John Dramani Mahama, another by Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and the third by himself as National Chairman.
He explained that while President Mahama and Professor Opoku-Agyemang concentrated on the presidential race, he was tasked with steering the parliamentary campaign.
“We realised that the elections had two main fronts—the presidential and parliamentary. It was important for President Mahama to focus entirely on the presidential contest, while my team worked to secure parliamentary seats,” he said.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah noted that, at a point during the campaign, the NDC observed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had lost confidence in its presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and had shifted resources into strengthening parliamentary candidates.
Their strategy, he explained, was to win majority control in Parliament, even if President Mahama emerged victorious, in order to weaken his governance.
In response, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah said he deliberately targeted difficult constituencies, mobilising grassroots structures to secure gains for the NDC.
“We went into areas that were considered NPP strongholds, engaged with communities, and by God’s grace, before the elections ended, we were able to capture many constituencies from their hands,” he recounted.
He emphasised that his thank you tour is specifically tied to the success of the parliamentary elections. “This tour is not about the presidential campaign—it is about appreciating the efforts of our people who worked tirelessly to win seats in Parliament and to strengthen the party’s position,” he added.