Emmanuel Mensah
A new nationwide survey conducted by Africa Policy Lens and led by Dr. Hayford M. Ayerakwa of constituency executives within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed a tightly contested race for the party’s 2028 flagbearer position, with Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Julius Debrah emerging as the two leading contenders.
The poll, conducted between April 17 and April 19, 2026, sampled executives across all 276 constituencies and gathered 2,408 responses through a structured SMS-based survey. The findings show that Asiedu Nketia leads with 31.9%, closely followed by Debrah with 30.1%, reflecting a slim margin of just 1.8 percentage points.
When respondents were asked who they would vote for if elections were held today, the trend remained consistent. Asiedu Nketia secured 32.7%, while Debrah followed with 30.9%, reinforcing the deadlock at the top of the race.
Beyond the two frontrunners, the survey highlights a competitive second tier. Cassiel Ato Forson was identified by 27.1% of respondents as a “closest opponent,” while Asiedu Nketia also led that perception metric with 29.1%. Julius Debrah and Haruna Iddrisu trailed in this category with approximately 15–16% each.
The report further indicates that delegates are prioritising leadership qualities over policy proposals. Experience and track record ranked highest at 66.1%, followed by integrity and honesty (56.8%), ability to unite the party (46.8%), grassroots appeal (46.5%), and charisma and public image (43.9%). Policy proposals lagged behind at 27.9%.
The findings suggest that while both Asiedu Nketia and Debrah have built solid support bases, neither has secured a decisive advantage. The race remains open, with the eventual winner likely to emerge based on their ability to expand support and appeal to delegates seeking credibility, unity, and strong leadership.
Yaw Boagyan
