The Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders in South Africa, Mr Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has asserted that the NDC is well-positioned to defeat the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in any future election, particularly if the NPP fields Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as its presidential candidate.

Speaking on JoyNews' UpFront on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, during a discussion on the Global InfoAnalytics Post-Election Outlook, Mr Quashie referenced the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections and the current approval ratings of the NDC as clear indicators of the party’s growing strength and popularity among the electorate.

“I have said it time and again: any time, any day, and in any election where Dr Bawumia leads the NPP against the NDC, we would beat them hands down,” he declared.

When asked about the potential leadership of the NDC after President John Mahama, Mr Quashie urged the party to remain focused on governance and supporting President Mahama in delivering on his mandate.

He cautioned against premature conversations about succession, stating that the President has not yet completed forming his government.

"It’s still early days. The party should not be distracted by succession talks. We must rally behind President Mahama to succeed,” he emphasised.

On the topic of potential successors, Mr Quashie acknowledged that while discussions about post-Mahama leadership should be left to political analysts and not NDC members, it wouldn’t be surprising if the current Vice President emerges as the front runner. He cited her groundbreaking achievements as the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and the first female Vice President of Ghana as factors that could work in her favour.

Other prominent names floated as possible future NDC leaders include Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

Reacting to how these individuals might perform against Dr Bawumia in an election, he was emphatic: “With the evidence from the 2024 polls, any of these candidates would defeat Bawumia in a general election.”