Nsawam Adoagyiri MP and Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to adopt what he describes as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) orderly and democratic approach to selecting presidential candidates, as internal debates intensify over recent political messaging within the governing party.

His comments come amid renewed political discourse triggered by competing “thank-you tour” narratives involving senior NDC figures, including National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu.

Mr. Annor Dompreh urged the NDC to study and emulate the NPP’s “peaceful and democratic” method of electing its presidential candidate, citing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s 56.48% victory in the party’s recent flagbearer contest as an example of internal cohesion and party unity.

“The NPP elected Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in a very democratic and peaceful manner, and it is only proper that the NDC learns from the NPP on how to elect a flagbearer in that same manner,” Mr. Annor Dompreh stated.

The MP’s comments follow controversy sparked by remarks made by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu during a regional engagement in Sawla in the Savannah Region on Friday, May 22.

Mr. Iddrisu, while addressing supporters, appeared to distinguish between President John Dramani Mahama’s post-election outreach and a separate engagement led by Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, describing one as the “proper thank-you tour.”

“I recall when President Mahama came for his thank you tour, not the other thank you tour, the proper thank you tour of President Mahama as President and flagbearer,” he stated.

He further added: “A proper thank you tour of President Mahama, not the curtain raiser one.”

The comments have since triggered internal discussions within the NDC, with some political observers interpreting them as subtle criticism of the National Chairman’s nationwide engagements.

Reacting to the developments, Mr. Annor Dompreh suggested that political activities within the NDC, even those publicly framed as routine outreach programmes, are increasingly being interpreted as signals of internal leadership ambition and succession planning.

To buttress his point, he referenced Chief of Staff Julius Debrah’s recent keep-fit exercise, which he claimed was widely viewed within political circles as a subtle move to project presidential ambition ahead of a future NDC flagbearer contest.

“Chief of Staff Julius Debrah recently embarked on a keep-fit exercise. It was a calculated move to subtly announce his intention to contest the NDC flagbearer race,” he claimed.

According to him, the development subsequently informed Mr. Asiedu Nketiah’s decision to embark on a nationwide Thank You Tour.

Beyond intra-party dynamics, the Minority Chief Whip also criticised the government over ongoing power supply challenges, popularly known as “dumsor,” accusing the NDC-led administration of failing to provide lasting solutions.

He further asked government when it would establish the Women’s Development Bank to provide low-interest loans and start-up capital to women, as promised during the run-up to the elections, stating that it was only proper for the NDC led government to keep its promises.