The political landscape in Ghana is once again shifting beneath the surface of everyday discourse, with the 2028 presidential election gradually moving from distant possibility to imminent reality. The New Patriotic Party (NPP), having just concluded its flag bearer selection process, now faces the unenviable task of charting a course that could either consolidate its return to power or hand the National Democratic Congress (NDC) another term in office.
Central to this strategic calculus is a question that has lingered in political circles with increasing frequency: what if the NDC were to present an Ashanti flag bearer to face the New Patriotic Party in 2028?
This question, once dismissed as political fantasy, has gained considerable traction in recent months. The NPP, after all, has long treated the Ashanti Region as its electoral fortress, a reliable source of votes that has delivered victory margins time and again. Yet the demographics of Ghanaian politics are not static, and the assumptions that governed electoral behaviour a decade ago may no longer hold sway over an increasingly educated, mobile, and issue-conscious electorate.
For the NDC, the possibility of an Ashanti flagbearer represents both a significant risk and an extraordinary opportunity – one that merits careful examination.
When considering the field of potential Ashanti flagbearers, three names consistently emerge in political discussions: Dr Kwabena Duffour, Kwame Awuah Darko, and Kojo Bonsu. Each brings a distinct set of experiences, credentials, and political assets to any hypothetical contest. Understanding their relative strengths and weaknesses provides crucial insight into how the NDC might approach this strategic calculation.
The Electoral Significance of the Ashanti Factor
To understand why an Ashanti flagbearer might represent a transformative choice for the NDC, one must first appreciate the historical and political significance of the region within Ghana’s broader electoral framework. The Ashanti Region has consistently delivered some of the largest vote margins for the NPP, with the party’s candidates routinely polling significant majorities in constituency after constituency.
This dominance has been attributed to a combination of factors: the region’s historical associations with the party, its substantial population of cocoa farmers and formal sector workers, and the enduring influence of traditional leadership structures that have often aligned with NPP political sensibilities.
However, political fortresses are not impregnable. Urbanisation has transformed Kumasi into a sprawling metropolis with a population that is increasingly young, educated, and engaged with national rather than purely local concerns. The city has become a centre of commercial activity, attracting migrants from across Ghana and creating a cosmopolitan electorate that may be less amenable to traditional voting patterns.
Issues such as unemployment, economic opportunity, infrastructure quality, and the cost of living have become central to political discourse, and these concerns transcend regional loyalties. An Ashanti candidate who can speak credibly to these issues; while also possessing the personal credibility to overcome inherited partisan biases; could potentially reshape the electoral map in ways that have previously seemed impossible.
The strategic logic becomes even more compelling when one considers the NPP’s own candidate for 2028. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, while a formidable campaigner, hails from the Northern Region, and his selection has prompted calculations within the NDC about regional balance and the symbolic significance of candidate origins.
The argument goes that if the NPP can field a northern candidate, the NDC might well consider an Ashanti candidate; not merely as a matter of regional representation, but as a deliberate effort to neutralise the NPP’s traditional strengths and force the governing party to compete in territory it has long taken for granted.
Dr Kwabena Duffour: The Seasoned Technocrat with Presidential Experience
Among the Ashanti personalities mentioned in connection with the NDC’s 2028 flagbearer position, Dr Kwabena Duffour stands out for his extensive experience in both public service and economic management. His career trajectory has traversed the worlds of academia, central banking, and high-level ministerial responsibility, providing him with credentials that few Ghanaian politicians can match.
Following his central banking service, Dr Duffour transitioned to the Ministry of Finance, serving as Finance Minister during a critical period in Ghana’s economic history. In this capacity, he was responsible for formulating and implementing national fiscal policy, managing the government’s budgetary affairs, and coordinating with international financial institutions on development financing.
His performance in this role demonstrated his capacity to manage complex economic portfolios while also engaging with the political dimensions of economic decision-making.
Dr Duffour’s age may also factor into strategic calculations, as political parties sometimes consider generational renewal when selecting flagbearers. While experience is valuable, the ability to connect with younger voters who constitute a significant portion of the electorate has become increasingly important in Ghanaian politics.
Kwame Awuah Darko: The Corporate-Turned Public Servant with Developmental Credentials
Kwame Awuah Darko represents a different profile among the potential Ashanti flagbearers for the NDC. Unlike Dr Duffour’s extensive history in formal politics and government, Awuah Darko has built his reputation primarily in the corporate sector before transitioning into public service roles. His career trajectory provides him with a distinctive perspective and a set of management competencies that could differentiate him from more traditional political figures.
Awuah Darko’s most prominent corporate role was as Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, where he demonstrated his capacity to lead complex organisations in the energy sector. The petroleum industry is crucial to Ghana’s economy, and experience in this sector provides valuable insights into national energy policy, infrastructure management, and the economics of resource distribution.
Unlike Dr Duffour, Kwame Awuah Darko has never formally contested the NDC flagbearer position, which means he has not been tested in the crucible of a party primary campaign. However, his relative political untestedness represents both a strength and a significant weakness.
Presidential campaigns require extensive retail politics; the ability to connect with voters one-on-one, to articulate a compelling vision, and to withstand the intense scrutiny that comes with national candidacy. Without a track record of electoral competition, it is difficult to assess how Awuah Darko would perform in these demanding circumstances.
Additionally, his corporate background, while valuable, may create perceptions of elitism that could alienate voters who feel disconnected from the world of boardrooms and executive suites.
The question of whether Awuah Darko would actually step forward to contest the flagbearer position also remains open. The text notes that he has never stepped forward despite being mentioned as a possible candidate, suggesting that he may not possess the personal ambition for the highest political office or may be waiting for more favourable political circumstances. Any serious consideration of his candidacy must acknowledge this uncertainty.
Kojo Bonsu: The Comprehensive Candidate with Innovative, Developmental and Diplomatic Credentials
Against the backdrop of these two distinguished Ashanti personalities, Kojo Bonsu emerges as a comprehensively positioned candidate for the NDC’s 2028 flagbearer position. His unique combination of local governance experience, international diplomatic exposure, and authentic Ashanti heritage creates a profile that addresses many of the strategic considerations discussed above.
Like Dr Duffour, Kojo Bonsu has contested the NDC flagbearer position in the party’s history twice, demonstrating both his personal ambition and his willingness to subject his political credentials to the judgment of party delegates. This previous candidacy provides him with invaluable experience in understanding the demands of a flagbearer campaign, building coalitions within the party, and articulating a vision that resonates with party faithfuls.
Unlike Dr Duffour’s previous unsuccessful attempts, however, Bonsu’s relative youth and continuing relevance suggest that his political trajectory may be ascending rather than plateauing.
His current role as Ghana’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China represents a significant platform for national visibility and international experience. China has become an increasingly important partner in Ghana’s development, with substantial investments in infrastructure, energy, and industrial development.
As Ambassador, Bonsu has been actively involved in promoting Ghana as a destination for industrial investment, engaging with Chinese manufacturing firms, investors, and development agencies with a focus on attracting factories, industrial parks, and technology transfer to Ghana.
This diplomatic experience positions Bonsu as a practical, results-oriented figure who can speak credibly about economic transformation at a time when jobs and production remain top voter concerns.
The developmental projects undertaken during Bonsu’s tenure as Mayor constitute a remarkable record of urban transformation. One of the hallmark achievements of his mayoralty was the comprehensive road infrastructure programme that addressed decades of neglect in Kumasi’s road network.
The transformation of Kumasi’s sanitation system represented another area of significant progress. Prior to Bonsu’s intervention, the city struggled with inadequate waste management, irregular collection services, and environmental degradation in densely populated areas.
Perhaps most significantly, Bonsu championed the beautification and redevelopment of Kumasi’s city centre, recognising that the urban aesthetic carried implications for economic confidence and civic pride.
The Kejetia Bus Terminal project, though conceived earlier, gained substantial momentum during Bonsu’s tenure. This facility, designed to replace inadequate and chaotic informal transport arrangements, represented a vision of Kumasi as a modern, organised metropolitan centre.
These projects were not merely physical improvements; they represented a philosophy of governance that prioritised practical outcomes over political symbolism.
Ultimately, the question of whether the NDC fields an Ashanti candidate in 2028 will depend on a complex interplay of internal party dynamics, the national mood as the election approaches, and the cold mathematics of electoral arithmetic.
The potential rewards, however, are substantial. An Ashanti flagbearer could help neutralize long-standing regional voting patterns and force the NPP to defend territory it has long treated as secure.
If the NDC decides to go Ashanti, it would not merely be a symbolic gesture aimed at garnering regional votes. It would be a calculated gamble designed to redraw Ghana’s electoral map and demonstrate that the party’s appeal transcends historical boundaries.
Whether such a gamble would succeed remains uncertain, but the logic underlying it has never been more compelling, and the candidates capable of executing it have never been more visible. The coming years will reveal whether the NDC possesses the strategic ambition to embrace this possibility and whether the country is ready for the transformation it could bring.
WRITTEN BY: PROF FAITH BEN-DANIELS
