A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team in the Upper East Region has endorsed the party’s Council of Elders for cautioning members against engaging in premature presidential campaign activities.
Michael Nangena said the council’s intervention was timely and necessary to ensure that party members remain focused on supporting President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to deliver on its campaign promises.
Speaking on Dreamz FM’s Breakfast Today programme, Mr Nangena described political ambitions within the party as natural but stressed that the NDC constitution provides a clear timetable for presidential contests.
“It is natural to expect that some party members may be preparing themselves in anticipation of future presidential elections,” he said. “However, at this material time, our focus should be on delivering the mandate given to us by the people of Ghana.”
The NDC Council of Elders recently issued a statement urging members to refrain from activities that could be interpreted as early campaigning for the party’s next presidential candidate.
Mr Nangena said Ghana’s economy remains in a delicate recovery phase and requires the full attention of government appointees and party officials.
He noted that the government is working to consolidate gains made after exiting the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Credit Facility programme and entering a Policy Coordination Instrument arrangement.
According to him, distractions caused by internal succession politics could undermine efforts to implement policies aimed at improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
He urged party supporters, government appointees and Members of Parliament to direct their energies toward supporting the administration’s development agenda rather than engaging in future leadership contests.
Mr Nangena argued that the performance of the current government would ultimately determine the electoral fortunes of whoever emerges as the NDC’s next presidential candidate.
“It will be on the basis of our performance that Ghanaians will decide whether to renew our mandate,” he said.
The communicator also rejected suggestions that the council’s statement targeted specific individuals rumored to be positioning themselves for future leadership roles, insisting that the party has not officially opened nominations for any presidential race.
