The contest for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) national chairmanship has been thrown wide open after incumbent Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, popularly known as “General Mosquito,” declined to seek re-election — a decision that has intensified speculation about his possible presidential ambitions ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Nominations for the party’s national executive positions closed on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with a total of 137 aspirants picking up forms to contest various positions. According to party sources, the National Chairmanship position alone attracted five aspirants, while the National Vice Chairman slot recorded the highest interest with 19 candidates.
The Five Chairmanship Aspirants
The five individuals seeking to replace Mr. Nketiah are:
- Samuel Ofosu Ampofo – A former National Chairman of the party (2018–2022) who lost his re-election bid to Mr. Nketiah at the 2022 National Delegates Congress. His nomination forms were picked up on his behalf by supporters drawn from all 16 regions of Ghana. He previously served as Eastern Regional Minister and Minister for Local Government.
- Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye – The former Member of Parliament for Odododiodo and a former National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
- Nii Armah Ashietey – A former Greater Accra Regional Minister and former MP for Korle Klottey. He formally declared his bid in September, pledging to build a more “inclusive, united and participatory” party.
- Akwasi Opong-Fosu – A former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development who officially declared his intention in August 2026, positioning himself around a message of “Restoration, Renewal and Resetting.” He also currently serves as Board Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).
- Sofo Azorkar – The incumbent National Vice Chairman of the party.
Speculation Over Presidential Bid
Mr. Nketiah’s decision to step down after only one term as chairman has fueled widespread conjecture that he may be eyeing the party’s flagbearership for the 2028 polls. When pressed on the matter in August 2026, Mr. Nketiah notably refused to rule out a presidential run, stating, “I have never ruled any position out in my life. I’m not ruling any position out,” and adding that “ambition is a very useful thing in politics.”
The party’s Director of Elections and IT, Mahdi Gibril, confirmed that the chairman had not picked up forms and had not indicated any intention to contest the chairmanship again.
Next Steps in the Process
All prospective candidates now have 14 days to complete their nomination forms, including payment of filing fees and securing the required endorsements. The formal filing of nominations is scheduled for November 7–9, 2026, at the party’s headquarters in Adabraka, Accra. Vetting of applicants is set for November 12–13, with the National Delegates Congress slated for December 19, 2026, where the new executives will be elected.
