We have all seen it – Kwakye Ofosu confirms early race to replace Mahama
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has admitted that conversations and strategic positioning within the NDC over a possible successor to President John Mahama are already becoming evident.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese MP said concerns raised by Dr Callistus Mahama about early succession politics distracting the government were valid and deserved serious attention.
“We are all seeing it, and his concerns are timely. What he said is completely accurate. He’s absolutely right, and I fully agree with him,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.
He maintained that the NDC’s chances of retaining power in future elections would depend largely on the government’s performance rather than on individuals seeking to lead the party.
“What will persuade Ghanaians to renew our mandate is the work we do in government. It doesn’t matter who becomes the candidate,” he stressed.
According to him, personalities alone no longer guarantee electoral success unless a candidate possesses exceptional qualities that distinguish them from others.
Kwakye Ofosu argued that Ghanaian voters have become more discerning and now place greater emphasis on the achievements of governments than on campaign rhetoric or personalities.
“The Ghanaian people evaluate the performance of governments before deciding whether to give them another term,” he explained.
He said the government’s priority should therefore be delivering strong results so that whoever eventually emerges as the party’s flagbearer would inherit a positive record to campaign on.
“You can present even an angel as a candidate, but if the record behind that person is poor, voters will reject them,” he remarked.
The government spokesperson said Dr Callistus Mahama’s comments should serve as a caution to individuals already positioning themselves for future leadership contests within the party.
“His warning is timely, and I believe those concerned would have taken notice,” he added.
When asked whether President Mahama could take action against officials believed to be quietly campaigning, Kwakye Ofosu noted that many of those involved had not publicly declared any ambition, making it difficult to sanction them at this stage.
“Some of them are not even officeholders, so there would be nothing for them to step down from,” he said.
He described the current political activity as exploratory, insisting that no one had officially announced plans to contest.
“At the moment, they are simply testing the waters, but no formal declarations have been made,” he explained.
However, he suggested there could come a time when such activities would become incompatible with holding government office.
“There will be a point where those activities can no longer coexist with their roles in government, and at that stage it would be clear they must step aside,” he noted.
Kwakye Ofosu also referenced former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s decision to ask ministers with presidential ambitions to resign from his cabinet, indicating that a similar situation could eventually arise under President Mahama.
About The Author
