Who is running the country? - Kofi Bentil questions NDC leadership

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has questioned the leadership and political direction of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the party faces a major challenge in matching the credentials of former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking during a discussion on TV3 on October 24, 2026, Bentil said uncertainty over the NDC’s future leadership and possible presidential candidates could shape the next political contest.

“There is a break in our political rhythm. President Mahama is leaving and Asiedu Nketiah is now leading. We’re not sure if Ato Forson is going to run,” he said.

He noted that neither NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah nor Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, should he decide to contest, had demonstrated enough to surpass Dr Bawumia’s record.

“Whether Ato Forson or Asiedu Nketiah, I don't think that this new horse has the credentials of Dr Bawumia. I don't think they have put out enough to beat the record of Dr Bawumia. There’s going to be a whole new kind of race,” he stated.

He also raised concerns about developments within the NDC, questioning who was directing certain actions within the party and whether President John Dramani Mahama was aware of them.

“Who is running this country? Today, we’re not clear and if it’s not President Mahama, who everybody believes is a calm person, who is behind the scenes in the NDC doing these things when President Mahama is there?” he asked.

The IMANI Africa vice president criticised what he described as the seizure of markets and the destruction of people’s livelihoods, warning that such actions could create public discontent.

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According to him, the concerns surrounding market demolitions and the disruption of livelihoods have raised questions about accountability and who is ultimately responsible for the decisions.

“Ghanaians don’t like some things. We’ve talked about mind seizures, market destructions, destruction of people’s livelihoods,” he shared.

Bentil contrasted these developments with Dr Bawumia’s policy proposals, arguing that the former Vice President was presenting ideas intended to move the country forward.

“We’re talking about ideas Bawumia is coming up with that are going to move you forward. People are destroying things all over the place and we don’t know who is in charge,” he noted.

He further stated that the NDC had a challenge to overcome, particularly in the area of party organisation, pointing to what he described as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) efforts in setting standards for political party organisation.

“NPP has done a fantastic job to set the standard for how to organise your party. NDC now has to rise to that challenge and has a hurdle to jump,” he said.

Despite his criticisms, Bentil said he wanted the NDC government to succeed, adding that while its performance had so far been satisfactory, public dissatisfaction appeared to be growing.

“I want them to succeed. The government so far so good, but like we said they have peaked and right now, there’s hue and cry in Ghana. Market women, people’s minds are being seized as if somebody owns the country and we can’t be sure it’s the president,” he added.

There is a break in our political rhythm. Whether Ato Forson or Asiedu Nketia, I don't think they have the record to beat Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. - Kofi Bentil, Vice President, IMANI Africa

#TheKeyPoints #TV3GH https://t.co/NJfNGQgsM7

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) October 24, 2026

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