Politics of 2026-11-04

General Mosquito has earned his shot at the Presidency - Kwetey

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has defended the right of the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to seek the presidency, saying his years of dedicated service provide legitimate grounds for such an ambition.

He, however, drew a firm line between recognising the chairman’s credentials and endorsing him, insisting that the choice of the party’s next presidential candidate must remain with its members.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, November 3, in an interview monitored by our news desk, the NDC scribe said there was nothing objectionable about Asiedu Nketia entering a presidential contest should he decide to do so.

His comments acknowledged the chairman’s contribution to the party while emphasising that every qualified aspirant must have a fair opportunity to compete for its leadership.

“It shouldn't be a problem at all. I mean, he qualifies to run for president,” Kwetey said.

The statement offered a clear defence of the chairman’s right to pursue the highest political office, but it did not announce a candidature or suggest that the NDC had already settled on him as its next flagbearer. The prospect of a contest, as discussed in the interview, remained dependent on Asiedu Nketia’s decision.

Kwetey pointed to the chairman’s longstanding service as a significant part of his credentials. Having served as both General Secretary and National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia has occupied two of the NDC’s most prominent organisational positions. That record, Kwetey indicated, should not become a reason to question his right to seek a different leadership responsibility if he considers himself ready to pursue it.

“Of course. I mean, he has served the party diligently. I mean, at the highest level, if he wants to go for it, should I call it the highest position of the party, why not?” he said.

His response placed the chairman’s possible ambition within the context of service and experience, acknowledging that a figure who has devoted years to building and leading the organisation has legitimate grounds to present himself for consideration.

Popularly known as “General Mosquito”, Asiedu Nketia is among the NDC’s most recognisable political figures. His possible entry into a presidential contest would therefore bring an established party leader into discussions about its future direction. Recognition, however, is not the same as selection, and Kwetey’s remarks left no indication that the chairman’s standing should exempt him from competition or give him an automatic claim to the presidential ticket.

Indeed, the General Secretary was careful not to allow his positive assessment of Asiedu Nketia’s record to be interpreted as a declaration of support. When addressing his own role, he shifted attention from the ambitions of any individual to the condition of the party itself. His immediate responsibility, he explained, was to help maintain a strong organisation and create an environment in which prospective contenders could pursue their aspirations fairly.

“For me, it's not about support; at the moment, my job for now is to ensure that the party as a vehicle remains strong and ensure that we create a fair playing field for everybody and then let the party make that determination as to where next we ought to go,” he said. That explanation made fairness, rather than personal preference, the central obligation he attached to his position as General Secretary.

The distinction matters because senior party officials can recognise the qualities of a prospective candidate without committing the organisation to that person’s ambitions. In Kwetey’s account, acknowledging the chairman’s service must coexist with protecting opportunities for other qualified aspirants. His stated position was not that one individual should be placed beyond challenge, but that the party should be strong enough to accommodate a contest and allow its members to reach their own decision.

Kwetey further stressed that his personal choice should not become the party’s verdict. So it will not be my choice at all. It will be the choice of the masses. And our people are very discerning,” he said. His confidence in the judgement of members reinforced the separation between the leadership’s responsibility to facilitate a fair process and the membership’s authority to determine who should carry the party’s presidential mandate.

His comments come amid discussions within the NDC about possible contenders for its next presidential flagbearer election. They provide an acknowledgement of Asiedu Nketia’s eligibility in Kwetey’s assessment, but leave the wider succession question open. Nothing in the remarks establishes that the chairman has formally entered the race, that the General Secretary has endorsed him, or that other prospective candidates should defer to his years of service.

The broader question raised by the interview is how the party will balance respect for experienced leaders with the demands of competitive internal democracy. Long service can be an important credential, but its value must ultimately be assessed by those choosing the candidate. Kwetey’s emphasis on a level playing field suggests that the leadership’s task is to preserve that opportunity for judgement, rather than turn recognition of a distinguished record into a predetermined outcome.

For Asiedu Nketia, the remarks amount to a defence of his right to aspire. For other prospective contenders, they carry a commitment to fair treatment. For party members, they affirm that the final decision remains theirs. Kwetey’s position is therefore both supportive and restrained: General Mosquito has earned the opportunity to seek the presidency, but any mandate to lead must come through the party’s choice—not merely through the approval of its executives.