Ghana’s Political Landscape Shifts Toward 2028 as NPP and NDC Intensify Grassroots Mobilization

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have significantly escalated their political activities, pivoting toward long-term strategies for the 2028 general elections. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has emerged as a central figure in this mobilization, urging the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) to reject tribalism and stay focused on party unity. Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence that the NPP would secure a parliamentary majority if elections were held today, citing what he described as the NDC’s failure to address economic concerns like cocoa pricing and utility tariffs. This sentiment was echoed by MP Samuel Awuku, who declared that no NDC-held seat is safe as the party prepares for an aggressive grassroots campaign to dominate the 2028 polls.

Internal leadership contests within the NPP are also heating up as candidates position themselves to strengthen party structures. Dr. Charles Dwamena, the NPP National Treasurer, has formally declared his candidacy for General Secretary, touting his success in increasing membership dues and proposing a modern national headquarters and pension schemes for polling station executives. Simultaneously, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has begun his bid for the Greater Accra Regional Chairmanship, using Eid celebrations to reconnect with grassroots members and revitalize the party’s base in a region where the NDC has made significant gains. Former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum further emphasized the need for unity, reaffirming his total support for flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia following the party's presidential primary.

On the other side of the political divide, the NDC is asserting its growing dominance in key areas, particularly the Greater Accra Region. National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah recently noted that the region is becoming an NDC stronghold after the party won 29 out of 34 constituencies in the 2024 elections. Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to launch a nationwide tour in March 2026, starting in the Bono Region, to inspect development projects and engage directly with citizens. Despite this forward momentum, the party faces ongoing friction with the Electoral Commission, as NDC MPs Fred Agbenyo and Thomas Tsekpo have initiated a petition for the removal of Chairperson Jean Mensa, citing unresolved grievances from the 2020 elections.

Inter-party tensions have flared in rural communities, particularly regarding cocoa farming policies. In Bonkrom, Nana Kwadwo Nsiah I, the local Chief, condemned alleged attempts by NDC members to disrupt a Minority Caucus engagement with cocoa farmers. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, further alleged that NDC officials have used intimidation tactics to stop NPP interactions with farmers in the Ashanti Region. These clashes underscore the high stakes of agricultural policy in the upcoming electoral cycles. As the parties navigate these local conflicts and internal reshuffling, the broader political discourse in Ghana is also grappling with historical identity, as NPP founding member Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe recently challenged the government's narrative by asserting that Kwame Nkrumah remains the sole founder of the nation.