President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda has faced a series of challenges amid growing reports of emerging turf wars involving government appointees, NDC bigwigs, state institutions, and public sector workers.
A few weeks ago, veteran journalist and political commentator Kwesi Pratt Jnr publicly criticised some of President Mahama’s appointees, accusing them of undermining the administration’s objectives. According to him, certain officials have been “running circles” around the President and making a mockery of his directives.
Kwesi Pratt argued that many of Mahama’s appointees appear less interested in advancing the Reset Agenda and more focused on positioning themselves for future political contests.
He stressed that while President Mahama returned to office with a mission to address Ghana’s pressing challenges, some individuals within his government seem preoccupied with succession battles rather than helping him fulfil his promises to Ghanaians.
He further suggested that the President is being politically undermined by elements within his own administration who are already looking beyond his tenure and concentrating on who succeeds him.
Since those remarks, several apparent cracks have surfaced within the Mahama administration.
Although many of these developments are based on political analysis, media reports, and insider accounts rather than official confirmations, they have fueled discussions about growing power struggles within the Mahama government.
In this article, we examine five major turf wars and influence battles that appear to be emerging within the Mahama administration.
- Ato Forson vs. Eric Opoku
With reports already circulating claiming that the Finance Minister, Ato Forson, has been withholding funds to the Agric Ministry to thwart Eric Opoku’s presidential ambition.
The power struggle has now escalated further following a public dispute over a GH¢1.677 billion agriculture fund release.
Reports suggest the dispute began when the Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko announced that GH¢1.677 billion, 85% of non-salary spending, had been released to boost food production and agro-industrialisation.
The Finance Ministry then published official documents confirming over GH¢1.6 billion released to the Food and Agriculture Ministry.
According to the Finance Ministry, the allocation to the Agric Ministry represents 85% of its 2026 budget allocation for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture quickly countered and disputed the claim, citing February letters capping early spending at GH¢453 million for goods and services, with no new authorisations since.
In a press release by Samuel Hunter, the Media Liaison Officer of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, called for a stop to the infantile propaganda before it explodes.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in its release stated, “The attention of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has been drawn to claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85% of MOFA’s 2026 budget allocation. These claims do not align with the official budget execution documents issued by the Ministry of Finance itself.
On 15th February 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued a Commitment Authorization to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, just four days later, on 19th February 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued the 2026 First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter, which explicitly stated that, notwithstanding the contents of the Commitment Authorization, MOFA’s total expenditure for the first half of the year should not exceed GH¢910 million.
More significantly, the accompanying allotment schedule further restricted actual spending between January and June 2026 to approximately GH¢453 million, covering all expenditures, including staff compensation, contract commitments, and operational activities.
- Haruna Iddrisu vs Asiedu Nketiah
With the NDC flagbeareship race already heating up, with President John Mahama barely in his second year in office, with cracks already emerging within the ruling NDC government.
Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, in a video that has gone viral on X, was seen mocking the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, over his ongoing “Thank You” tour.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, President John Mahama’s ‘Thank You Tour’ is the proper one, not Asiedu Nketia’s curtain-raiser one ‘Thank You Tour’.
Speaking in Sawla in the Savannah Region on Friday, May 22, 2026, Haruna Iddrisu remarked, “I recall when President Mahama came for his thank-you tour, not the other thank-you tour, the proper thank-you tour of President Mahama as President and flagbearer.”
He added, “What cannot be said? We can say it. A proper thank you tour of President Mahama, not the curtain-raiser one.”
Haruna Iddrisu’s comment drew laughter from the audience whom he was addressing.
- Ghana Gas CEO vs Board
There have been recent social media claims suggesting a breakdown in relations at the Ghana National Gas Company Limited between its Chief Executive Officer, Judith Adjobah Blay, and the Board of Directors.
However, on Saturday, June 6, management stressed that there is no conflict between the Board, chaired by Kofi Totobi Quakyi, and the executive leadership.
The Ghana National Gas Company Limited statement insisted that both the CEO and continue to work in close collaboration, guided by mutual respect and professionalism.
The company highlighted that the allegations of an internal feud are “entirely false” and form part of attempts by unnamed actors to manufacture controversy and undermine confidence in the institution’s leadership.
- Haruna Iddrisu vs GETfund Boss
Reports had alleged that the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Paul Adjei, opposed directives from the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu.
It has been alleged that there was a tense standoff and outright defiance between Haruna Iddrisu and the GETfund Boss during a meeting.
However, a source present at the meeting and a member of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), according to reports who requested anonymity, indicated that no such confrontation occurred.
The source dismissed the suggestion of an alleged rift between the Education Minister and the GETfund Boss.
He stressed that discussions at the high-level meeting were largely measured, with stakeholders expressing concerns about procurement bottlenecks.
“At no point did the GETFund Administrator challenge or refuse to comply with any directive from the Minister. Complying with a directive does not take place during a meeting but is seen during implementation. So, the Administrator could not have defied the Minister’s directive during the meeting,” the source said.
“The characterisation of the meeting as confrontational is inaccurate and appears to have been made to create disaffection for the Administrator,” the source added.
- Health Minister vs KATH and Doctors
The health minister is once again in the middle of another turf war, this time with the health workers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) following the suspension of the CEO, Dr Paa Kwesi Aidoo.
The brohaha follows Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, who has directed the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to suspend the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, for two weeks with immediate effect.
In a letter dated June 5, 2026, the Health Minister asserted that the decision follows the KATH CEO temporary suspension of emergency admissions at the facility.
The Health Minister highlighted that the action was taken in contravention of directives issued by President John Dramani Mahama.
He disclosed that the meeting involving the Ministry’s Chief Director, Technical Advisor and Legal Advisor concluded that the CEO’s actions were inconsistent with the President’s directives.
However, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has joined the strike action by the Doctors at KATH, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended KATH CEO.
Also, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has issued a three-working-day ultimatum demanding the immediate reinstatement of the suspended Chief Executive of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr (Med) Paa Kwesi Aidoo.
The Association also backed KATH management’s decision to temporarily suspend emergency admissions and redirect patients to other facilities, citing severe overcrowding at the Accident and Emergency Centre and concerns over patient safety.
