Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, has disclosed that he played a key role in the appointment of Haruna Iddrisu and Mohammed Mubarak as ministers.
According to Johnson Asiedu Nketia, he told President Mahama they cannot ignore Muntaka and Haruna in setting up our government, adding that they need big positions.
He disclosed that President Mahama agreed with him and gave them the positions of Education Minister and Interior Minister, respectively.
Speaking in Tamale on Friday, May 22, 2026, Asiedu Nketiah explained, “After we won the election, I told President Mahama that we cannot ignore Muntaka and Haruna in setting up our government, so they needed to be given big positions. President Mahama agreed and gave them the positions, and we are working together and enjoying ourselves”.
Also, Asiedu Nketia detailed how he challenged John Mahama to remove the entire NDC parliamentary leadership structure.
The NDC Chairman revealed internal discussions that led to the removal of former Minority Leader of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu and Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, from their leadership.
It will be recalled that ahead of the 2024 general elections, the NDC in 2023 reshuffled its parliamentary leadership.
The entire Minority leadership team, led by Haruna Iddrisu, was changed with the party describing the move as s a broader restructuring exercise from the grassroots to the national level.
A letter dated January 23, 2023, communicated to Parliament, announced Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, as Minority Leader, replacing Haruna Iddrisu, while Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle, took over as Deputy Minority Leader from James Klutse Avedzi. Kwame Agbodza was also appointed Minority Whip, with Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyo Ghansah serving as First and Second Deputy Whips.
According to Asiedu Nketia, the NDC won the 2024 elections because the Minority leadership changed.
He disclosed that he told the then-former President Mahama that they needed to change the forward line of Parliament, but he disagreed with me.
According to him, he had to assume the role of a “coach” of the party heading into the polls, adding that there was initial disagreement from President John Dramani Mahama over the proposed changes.
Speaking during his “Thank You” tour in a viral video, Asiedu Nketiah explained, “I said we had to change the forward line of Parliament; otherwise, it would be difficult for us to win the election. President Mahama disagreed with me, but I said, ‘Look, you elected me as chairman of this party. I am the coach of the party going into the election, so allow me to make the changes that will help us win. When we win, we will all enjoy together”.
“Then I made the changes. I made my brother, Haruna, and Muntaka step aside, and people started thinking that someone who has been my friend for more than 20 years had suddenly become my enemy. He can never become my enemy. But I am a coach, and I must study how our opponents are playing so I can properly arrange my team for victory.
“When we made the rearrangement and went into the election, the victory the NDC achieved in 2024, have you seen such a victory in Ghana since the beginning of the Fourth Republic? We won.
He further urged party members to avoid internal factionalism, saying, “And now we are all working together. So if people in Tamale are forming groups such as Haruna group, Asiedu Nketiah group, and so on, that is your own issue in Tamale; it is not our issue”.
Watch the video below:
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of the NDC, says the party’s 2024 election victory was partly driven by deliberate changes to its parliamentary leadership to improve electoral competitiveness.
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) May 22, 2026
He said the 2023 reshuffle of the Minority leadership, which replaced Haruna Iddrisu… pic.twitter.com/hcnE5iAlI3
