Eric Opoku Emerges as Strong Contender for NDC’s 2028 Flagbearer Race Amid Competitive Field
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is witnessing growing speculation about its 2028 presidential flagbearer, with reports indicating that Eric Opoku, the current Minister of Food and Agriculture and MP for Asunafo South, is being strongly considered by influential party blocs as a potential successor to President John Dramani Mahama.
Mahama, who served from 2012 to 2016 and began his second term in January 2025, is constitutionally ineligible to run again in 2028.
Sources within the NDC suggest that Opoku’s candidacy is gaining traction, with senior party figures and stakeholders quietly mobilizing support to position him as the frontrunner, citing his reputation as a hardworking minister.
However, a recent Global InfoAnalytics survey published on July 17, 2025, indicates a competitive field, with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu leading as the preferred candidate among 27% of respondents, followed closely by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia at 26%.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson garnered 22%, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah 11%, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 8%, and Klottey Korle MP Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 4%, with 3% supporting other unnamed candidates.
An earlier April 2025 poll by Global InfoAnalytics had Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the frontrunner with 26-33% support, highlighting her strong appeal, particularly as the first female Vice President and a key figure in the NDC’s 2024 victory.
Eric Opoku, a seasoned politician elected MP in 2004, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, has served as Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister (2009–2013) and is a ranking member of the Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee.
His supporters are reportedly working discreetly to avoid drawing undue attention while consulting stakeholders nationwide.
Despite this momentum, the absence of Opoku’s name in the Global InfoAnalytics survey suggests his campaign may still be in early stages compared to more publicly recognized contenders like Iddrisu, Nketia, and Opoku-Agyemang.
The NDC’s 2028 flagbearer race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with multiple prominent figures, including Opoku, Debrah, Forson, Ablakwa, and Agyeman-Rawlings, vying for the role.
The party’s internal dynamics, bolstered by its 2024 landslide victory securing 183 of 276 parliamentary seats, will likely influence the selection process as it prepares for a post-Mahama era. The outcome will depend on grassroots engagement, policy clarity, and the ability to unify the party’s diverse factions
