There is growing concern within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the activities of Musah Danquah and his outfit, Global InfoAnalytics, following the release of controversial polls on the presidential ambitions of key government appointees just eight to nine months into the Mahama administration.
Many within the party believe these surveys are being fuelled by appointees eager to see the back of President John Dramani Mahama, while others oppose him outright as flagbearer.
Critics argue that the fixation on succession is distracting appointees from their mandate, undermining government cohesion and focus.
Reports suggest that some ministers have stopped working harmoniously, with others already building campaign “war chests” and even selecting potential running mates for the 2028 presidential race, long before the NDC has opened its processes.
What has further unsettled the party is the conduct of its National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who, rather than calming tensions, has declared his own interest in succeeding Mahama. In videos circulated ahead of a planned ‘Thank You Tour’, he has described himself as “courageous”, “trustworthy” and “experienced”, raising suspicion among party faithful.
Party insiders believe Musah Danquah, through his polling activities, is sowing discord within the government, with some warning that the growing divisions could pose a threat to national security.
They have been urging the President to take decisive action, either by calling ministers to order or dismissing those who refuse to comply with directives to focus on their official mandates, in order to avoid the risk of becoming a lame-duck administration.
Another faction within the NDC believes the Presidency must also rein in Musah Danquah and his Global InfoAnalytics, directing him to concentrate on tracking government policies rather than the presidential ambitions of appointees, as such distractions risk undermining both the government and the NDC’s plans for Ghanaians, which have already been marketed to and endorsed by the electorate.
The latest Global InfoAnalytics survey places Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu as the frontrunner to lead the NDC into the 2028 elections with 30% support.
He is followed by Asiedu Nketia with 24%, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson with 18%, and former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah with 10%. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa polled 8%, while Eric Opoku, Joshua Alabi, Armah-Kofi Buah and Kwame Awuah-Darko each secured 2%. Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah managed 1%, while Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije registered no significant support.
Alternative scenarios show Haruna’s dominance more clearly. In a three-way race excluding Ato Forson, he widens his lead to 45%, compared to Asiedu Nketia’s 37% and Julius Debrah’s 18%. Among NDC supporters alone, his backing rises to 47%, with particularly strong support in swing regions.
However, if Haruna does not contest, Asiedu Nketia emerges slightly ahead with 40%, followed closely by Ato Forson on 38% and Julius Debrah on 22%. In this scenario, Forson performs strongest in swing regions, outpacing Asiedu 47% to 38%.
The findings suggest that while Haruna remains the clear favourite, his absence would create a fiercely competitive two-horse race between Asiedu Nketia and Ato Forson.
Musah Danquah’s polls also extend to potential inter-party matchups. A recent Global InfoAnalytics survey shows Asiedu Nketia narrowly leading former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in a hypothetical 2028 presidential race, with 50% against 45%. The remaining 5% expressed preference for another candidate.
Another poll by the firm suggests Dr Bawumia remains the clear favourite to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2028, commanding 57% support among voters compared to 29% for Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. Other figures, including Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Dr Bryan Acheampong, trail with single-digit support.
Among NPP delegates, Dr Bawumia also enjoys a commanding lead with 47%, while Kennedy Agyapong follows at 17%. However, a significant 27% of delegates remain undecided.
About a week ago, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, cautioned senior NDC figures against prematurely positioning themselves as Mahama’s successors. His warning followed an earlier Global InfoAnalytics poll suggesting that Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Asiedu Nketia and other influential members had already begun subtle campaigns ahead of the next primaries.
Speaking on Channel One TV on 23 September, Ambassador Smith described such moves as premature and distracting.
“It’s normal for them, maybe they are trying to prepare the ground for themselves, I don’t know. I personally think that talks about preparing to replace John Mahama is too early because we haven’t even done one year since coming to office,” he said.
Smith warned that premature succession campaigns risk derailing government focus on development.
“They have taken off too soon. If too many people are entering the race now, then instead of focusing on building this nation and pursuing President Mahama’s agenda, we will be distracted by internal campaigns,” he stressed.
He urged party members to allow President Mahama to complete his term before engaging in discussions about NDC leadership.
Similarly, Dr Tony Aidoo, a former Ghanaian ambassador to the Netherlands and a leading figure in the NDC, has said he would prefer not to live to witness the party’s presidential primaries ahead of the 2028 elections.
He argued that the future of the NDC and any potential presidential aspirant will depend mainly on the performance of Mahama’s administration.
Speaking on Radio Gold, he remarked: “Whoever plans to succeed Mahama will find that much depends on the outcome of his administration. If it does well, people will be attracted to the party, and that will create the momentum on which a potential successor can build.”
