NDC Council of Elders warns against premature presidential campaigns, urges focus on government's "Resetting Agenda
via GhanaWeb6 min read
The Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress NDC has issued a strong warning to party members, cautioning against early presidential campaign activities ahead of the next general election. The Council urged members to instead support the government's "Resetting Agenda" and maintain internal discipline and unity. This intervention followed an emergency closed-door meeting between the Council and President John Dramani Mahama at the Flagstaff House on Friday, May 29, 2026. Notably, the party's General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, and National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, were not present. Sources indicate that this extraordinary measure was prompted by growing concerns over a perceived breakdown in internal command and control, fueled by individuals positioning themselves to succeed President Mahama. The Council, chaired by Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, has reportedly made previous unsuccessful attempts to curb early campaign activities disguised as "thank-you tours" and health walks. One prominent aspirant reportedly walked out of Cabinet and has since boycotted meetings due to complaints about his political activities diverting attention from government business. Strategic discussions at the meeting focused on reinforcing party unity, enforcing strict internal discipline, and mobilizing grassroots support for the government's "Resetting Agenda." The Council expressed concern that early, well-funded campaigns could undermine party cohesion and distract the state from gov
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
President John Dramani Mahama has lauded Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as one of his administration's top performers. Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Volta Region on July 16, 2026, President Mahama described Ablakwa as among his hardest-working ministers, crediting him with many of Ghana’s diplomatic successes. He highlighted Ablakwa's commitment to national service and his focus on the development of the North Tongu constituency. The President attributed much of his international recognition to the Foreign Affairs Minister's efforts, citing Ghana’s successful campaign for a United Nations resolution on reparations as a prime example, noting Ablakwa personally led diplomatic engagements to secure international backing for the initiative.
Must ReadGhanaian TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The ruling was delivered on July 16, 2026, following her admission that she shared videos falsely alleging that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals for the 2024 general election. Her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, stated that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse due to lack of jurisdiction. However, she was found guilty of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The court imposed the one-year sentence, emphasizing the need for a deterrent given the increasing number of similar cases, despite the defense's plea for leniency. Camilla's arrest and prosecution followed the circulation of the videos on social media, and she was directed to undergo a pregnancy test before sentencing.
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department CAGD has refuted social media claims that the government has spent nearly GH¢11 billion on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project. The CAGD explained that the transfer of funds from the Consolidated Fund to Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle SPV established through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund GIIF, represents a standard accounting procedure. This transfer is recorded as Grant Expenditure by the Central Government and as Grant Revenue by the receiving entity, which is classified as a State-Owned Enterprise SOE. The Department emphasized that the money, earmarked from the Annual Budget Funding Amount ABFA and mineral royalties, remains in a dedicated Bank of Ghana account and has not been used for construction or paid to contractors. The CAGD clarified that the ongoing right-of-way clearing by the Ghana Armed Forces is a separate, preparatory exercise not funded by these project-specific funds. The Department urged the public not to misinterpret the accounting entry as actual expenditure on construction, affirming that the process aligns with Ghana’s Public Financial Management framework and established government accounting standards.