‘This tour is not about Presidency’ — Asiedu Nketiah clarifies Eastern Region outreach
Asiedu Nketiah’s ‘Thank You Tour’ Sparks Speculation but He Insists It’s About Parliament Wins
Elohim Nyame 
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has clarified the motive behind his ongoing “Thank You Tour” in the Eastern Region, stressing that it is an appreciation exercise and not a prelude to a presidential ambition.
The three-day tour, which ran from 17 to 19 September, covered 16 constituencies and brought together party executives, cadres, and grassroots organisers who contributed to the NDC’s victory in the 2024 general elections.
Addressing members in the Akuapem North Constituency, Mr Asiedu Nketiah highlighted the strategic division of responsibilities during the campaign. He explained that the party formed three teams—led separately by President John Dramani Mahama, running mate Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and himself.
According to him, while Mr Mahama and Professor Opoku-Agyemang focused on the presidential race, he was tasked with driving the parliamentary campaign. “We realised that the elections had two main fronts—the presidential and parliamentary. It was important for President Mahama to focus entirely on the presidential contest, while my team worked to secure parliamentary seats,” he said.
The NDC Chairman revealed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), recognising weaknesses in its presidential campaign, redirected efforts into strengthening its parliamentary candidates. Their plan, he noted, was to capture majority control in Parliament to limit Mr Mahama’s mandate even if he won.
In response, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said he deliberately concentrated resources on difficult constituencies, engaging local communities and activating grassroots networks to overturn several NPP strongholds. “By God’s grace, before the elections ended, we were able to capture many constituencies from their hands,” he recounted.
He emphasised that his “Thank You Tour” is specifically to acknowledge these efforts. “This tour is not about the presidential campaign—it is about appreciating the sacrifices of our people who worked tirelessly to win seats in Parliament and to strengthen the party’s position,” he concluded.
