Former Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem and former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has denied recent media reports suggesting that he has declared an intention to contest for the presidency of the Republic of Ghana.

In a rejoinder, Mr Duker described such publications carried by both mainstream and online media as “falsehoods” that risk undermining public perception, the unity of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and his integrity.

Among the headlines he cited were: “Hostility against me is because of my presidential potential - Mireku Duker”, “NPP bigwigs worked against me because of my presidential ambition – Mireku Duker”, and “Duker: I’m Under Attack Because of My Prez Potential”.

“Ordinarily, I would not respond to speculative reports driven by inaccurate interpretations or deliberate mischief. However, given the potential impact of such falsehoods on public perception, the unity of my party (the NPP), and my integrity, I deem it necessary to set the record straight,” portions of the rejoinder read.

Firm denial

Mr Duker stressed that at no point, “whether in an interview, public statement, or private conversation,” has he ever expressed any intention to run for the presidency.

“I wish to state emphatically that I have never, directly or indirectly, indicated that I harbour presidential ambitions. I have also never suggested that any political challenges I have encountered are in any way connected to such an alleged ambition,” he emphasised.

The former MP underscored that his political journey has been guided by humility, loyalty, and the principles of collective leadership within the NPP. “Leadership in our tradition is a call to service, not a personal entitlement, and certainly not an arena for self-promotion based on unverified rumours,” he said.

Track record

Hon. Duker said his work in Tarkwa-Nsuaem “has never been in pursuit of any personal political crown” but rather stems from a conviction that leadership means “serving my constituents, meeting the needs of the people, protecting our resources, and ensuring that governance delivers meaningful results for both my constituency and the ordinary Ghanaian.”

He also accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of deliberately targeting him because of his commitment to advancing the NPP’s fortunes in the Western Region.

“One clear example was during my tenure as Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, when baseless accusations were circulated, alleging that I was involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Yet, at no point was any credible evidence adduced to support these allegations. They were completely unfounded, maliciously crafted to tarnish my image, weaken my influence, and distract from the progress we were making in sanitising the mining sector”, his rejoinder further stated.

Loyalty

Mr. Duker reaffirmed his respect for the party’s structures and processes, noting that his current political energy is focused on supporting the NPP leadership, contributing to constructive discussions, and “working towards the recalibration and recapture of power in the 2028 general elections.”

He further called on the public and party members to treat the recent media reports “with the contempt they deserve.” “I reiterate that I have never declared any presidential ambition, and I reject any suggestion to that effect. These stories are unfounded, misleading, and should be disregarded. My political journey remains rooted in service, humility, and dedication to the people,” he stressed.