Former Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has raised concerns about what he describes as growing signs of disunity and lack of control within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on the KeyPoints on June 6, Mr. Mercer cited a caution issued by the Executive Secretary to President John Mahama, Dr. Callistus Mahama, urging government appointees and party members with ambitions to lead the NDC against premature discussions about succession and leadership contests ahead of the 2028 general elections.
According to Mr. Mercer, the statement itself is evidence that the Presidency is concerned about the conduct of some appointees.
“If the Executive Secretary to the President finds it necessary to publicly caution appointees whose political ambitions are undermining their responsibilities, then clearly there is a problem that government has identified,” he said.
The former lawmaker questioned why stronger action had not been taken if the Presidency had indeed observed conduct that was affecting the administration’s agenda.
“I would have expected the President, if he was fully in control, to crack the whip and bring discipline. Instead, we are seeing public lamentations and warnings,” he stated.
Mr. Mercer also referenced recent public disagreements involving government ministries, describing them as troubling signs of a government struggling to maintain cohesion.
He cited exchanges between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, as well as other public disagreements among government officials, arguing that such developments should concern Ghanaians.
“It is the Ghanaian taxpayer who suffers when government officials are engaged in these public disputes instead of focusing on governance,” he said.
The former MP further dismissed suggestions that the media was responsible for creating a perception of division within government.
According to him, the issues being discussed publicly are the result of actions and statements by government officials themselves.
“How do you blame the media when senior officials at the Presidency are publicly commenting on these matters? These are realities within the administration that are spilling into the public domain,” he argued.
Mr. Mercer maintained that the developments represent early warning signs of internal tensions within the ruling party and urged government leaders to address them before they escalate.
“These are early signs. The undercurrents are real, and they are becoming increasingly visible to the public,” he added.
By Christabel Success Treve
