National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has disclosed that he personally advised President John Dramani Mahama to appoint veteran lawmakers Haruna Iddrisu and Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka to prominent cabinet roles following the party’s victory in the 2024 general elections.

In a video that surfaced on Friday, May 22, 2026, the NDC Chairman stated during a tour stop in Tamale that the high-profile appointments were a deliberate strategic move designed to reinforce internal party cohesion, preserve unity, and utilise executive governance experience.

"After we won the election, I told President Mahama that we cannot ignore Muntaka and Haruna in setting up our government, so they needed to be given big positions," Mr Asiedu Nketia explained, noting that the president agreed to the recommendation.

Following the formation of the government, Mr Iddrisu was appointed Minister for Education, while Mr Muntaka was named Minister for the Interior.

Countering Internal Factionalism

Addressing the local political dynamics in Tamale, the National Chairman dismissed rumors of lingering personal animosity and strongly cautioned grassroots supporters against building competing political factions within the party.

"President Mahama agreed and gave them the positions, and we are working together and enjoying ourselves," the chairman stated.

"So if you are in Tamale and you are forming groups for Muntaka and Haruna, it is not our case but your case."

The Rationale Behind the 2023 Parliamentary Reshuffle

Mr Asiedu Nketia framed the subsequent cabinet inclusions as a structured component of a broader, long-term organisational strategy. This strategy included the controversial January 2023 restructuring of the NDC's parliamentary leadership, which resulted in the removal of the then Minority leadership team previously headed by Mr Iddrisu.

While acknowledging that the shake-up caused considerable friction and public speculation at the time, the National Chairman maintained that the difficult organisational reforms — spanning from the grassroots level up to national leadership — were vital to optimising the party's machinery and directly securing the 2024 electoral victory.