A group of progressive women in the Eastern Region has issued a wake-up call to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging the party to avoid any form of complacency following its landslide victory in the 2024 general elections. The women are calling on the NDC to begin preparations for the 2028 elections now, emphasizing that the party’s best strategic move would be to select another popular figure from the Northern sector with a high pedigree and national appeal to lead the party into the next electoral battle.

“Our position is simple – it is going to take more than His Excellency President John Mahama’s four-year mandate to fix the country. This being the case, the NDC must, in the interest of all progressives, ensure that it is not taken by surprise,’’ explained Mrs. Emelia Darkwah, the leader of the group.

Mrs. Darkwah emphasized that in selecting the next leader, the NDC should elect a “thoroughbred” from the Northern sector. “This is how the NDC can counter Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whom the NPP will definitely present again in 2028,” she stated, flanked by several women.

Currently, President John Mahama remains the most prominent figure within the NDC, but concerns are growing over the party’s future leadership. Many believe that Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who will be around 75 years old in 2028, may be too advanced in age to lead the party at that time. This, according to the group, places the NDC at risk of a leadership vacuum once President Mahama’s tenure ends—a development that could disorient the party if proactive measures are not taken.

Mrs. Darkwah and her group pointed out that electing a compelling candidate from the Northern sector is essential to maintaining the party’s influence in the region. “We have already seen the in-roads that Dr. Bawumia made in the Savanna Region in the 2024 elections, actually winning that region for the NPP. This is because he comes from there. If the NDC does not elect a more compelling counterweight to Dr. Bawumia, he can very easily spread his grip from Savannah to other parts of the Northern sector,” she cautioned.

She added that the Northern sector remains the NDC’s second most important stronghold after the Volta Region, and as such, the party cannot afford to lose its dominance there under any circumstances.

Although the group refrained from mentioning specific names, they were confident in the party’s pool of capable leaders from the Northern region. “Fortunately, the NDC has a lot of fantastic, brilliant presidential materials from the Northern sector. They should pick one and start grooming him now,” Mrs. Darkwah urged.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that the NDC may return the party’s leadership to the South after President Mahama, who would have led the party for 16 years by 2028. Names being mentioned from the South include National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, former flagbearer aspirant Professor Joshua Alabi, Chairman of the Council of State Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, former Minister of Communications Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, and former flagbearer aspirant Lawyer Goosie Tanoh.

On the other hand, the Northern sector boasts an equally formidable line-up of leaders such as Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, a celebrated lawyer and former minority leader under the Kufuor administration; Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu; Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine; former Attorney General Dr. Ben Kumbour; and Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga.

The call by Mrs. Darkwah and her group underscores the urgency for the NDC to begin serious succession planning and to ensure that the next generation of leadership is strategically positioned to carry the party’s legacy forward beyond 2028.