In politics, timing is everything. At no point in Ghana’s Fourth Republic has this truth been more relevant to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) than it is today. Barely nine months into President John Dramani Mahama’s new administration, murmurings about who should succeed him have already begun to dominate conversations within the Party and in the media space.

This, to my mind, is both premature and existentially dangerous for the NDC. Succession is inevitable. In any healthy democracy, it is natural for names and interests to emerge in anticipation of future leadership contests. Yet, the question is not whether succession will come; it will.

The more pressing question for the ”succession entrepreneurs” in the NDC is whether this is the right time to engage in rivalry, social media jousting and factional undercurrents when the Party’s government is still in its infancy. The answer, quite simply, is a big NO!

The bigger picture: Governance before gamesmanship

The foremost priority for the NDC at this moment must NOT be about who succeeds President Mahama. It must be about ensuring his administration succeeds. Ghanaians did not return the NDC to power for internal theatrics or early succession plots.

They did so with the hope of a responsible governance, bold reforms and better quality of life. If the government falters on these, no candidate, however solid, popular or resourceful, will find 2028 an easy climb. Conversely, if the President Mahama government delivers strongly on its mandate, the Party’s credibility will be fortified, giving any future flagbearer a formidable foundation on which to stand. The cautionary tale of the NPP must be an instructive guide.

Their inability to rein in open and unrestrained succession battles, with their associated “misguided” suspicions and vituperations, has left the once vibrant party fractured, distracted and mistrusted. The full effect crystallized in Akwatia where despite historical dominance and national sympathy after the demise of their MP, the NPP still failed to defend their seat. Internal divisions overshadowed strategy, costing them dearly.

 For the NDC to flirt with the same mistakes would be an unpardonable political negligence. As our Akan wisdom reminds us, “Wohu se wo yonko abodwese rehye a, na wasa nsuo asi wo dee ho”. To wit, “If you see your neighbour’s beard on fire, you fetch water by yours”.

The “thank you tour” debate: Ambition or appreciation?

It is against this backdrop that the debate over National Chairman’s “Thank You Tour” must be properly contextualized. Some critics have portrayed it as a thinly veiled bid for the presidency. Others have dismissed it as a needless “gamesmanship” enterprise.

These accusations risk reducing a potentially valuable exercise in grassroots mobilization to a mere succession gamesmanship thereby distracting the Party’s attention from its invaluable significance. Gratitude has its rightful place in politics. After the grueling 2024 campaign where foot soldiers, activists and local level executives laboured under difficult conditions to secure an overwhelming victory, it is not only appropriate but politically prudent to return to acknowledge their sacrifices. While President Mahama’s earlier “Thank You Tour” addressed the broader citizenry, the Chairman’s initiative has been more inward-looking, directed squarely at the Party’s machinery.

For the foot soldier who walked miles to canvass votes or defended ballot boxes under threats, such recognition is far from trivial. It is a renewal of trust, a reminder that their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. To dismiss this as disingenuous or as a smokescreen for future ambition is to overlook the deeper value of such engagements.

Political aspirations are not shameful; what matters is how they are pursued. If National Chairman’s activities are grounded in genuine appreciation, accountability and dialogue, then they represent leadership rather than opportunism. His tour can, in fact, serve as a crucial bridge, reconnecting government, party leadership and grassroots at a time disillusionment is quite high among party people just nine months after the elections.

 Unity, discipline and the optics

Still, legitimate concerns remain. Political optics cannot be ignored. We in the NDC must not allow well-intentioned actions to morph into distractions or fuel cynicism. Ghanaian voters are watching. They expect policies that address unemployment, economic hardship and social inequality.

For this reason, every gesture of appreciation and every engagement at the grassroots must be tied to tangible governance outcomes. The “Thank You Tour” must inspire discipline, renew commitment and galvanize grassroots participation in governance.

 It must not feed into the perception that the Party is more focused on personalities rather than policies. We must be deliberate in directing the focus of Chairman Asiedu Nketiah’s “Thank You Tour” to strengthening cohesion within the Party and ensuring the full involvement of the grassroots in the governance of the nation.

The road ahead: Deliver or perish together

At this juncture, what the NDC needs most is unity, discipline and unwavering focus. Every cadre, activist and party executive must appreciate that the fortunes of the Party are inseparably tied to the performance of the John Mahama government.

If the government delivers, the NDC delivers. If the government fails, every personal ambition, no matter how well-oiled, dies with it. It is crucially important for the NDC to eschew cynicism, put aside premature rivalries and rally behind the single most important project before us; delivering on the mandate.

We should take the caution and lesson in the Akan proverb “Dua a enya wo a ebewo w’ani no, yetu asee; yensensene ano” for granted. This is not the time to sharpen the stick of premature succession battles. It is the time to uproot distractions and focus all energies on governance. Ultimately, the challenge before the NDC is not about who leads in 2028. That day will surely come, and when it does, the Party will decide. The real challenge is how to govern well in the remaining three months of 2025, 2026 and 2027. If we succeed in these years, 2028 will take care of itself. If we fail, then the NDC risks repeating the NPP’s errors with consequences far graver than a lost by-election.

A word to the wise

As Ghanaians continue to demand the highest standards of governance from the Mahama government (our government), let the NDC and all loyal members be guided by wisdom, grounded in unity and focused on the sacred duty of governance at this crucial moment.

We must acknowledge the critical importance of moderation and timing in these crucial times and conduct ourselves as a people with both a mandate that cannot fail and a future that cannot be lost on us. A word to the wise….

Let us be guided!