The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has defended the ongoing nationwide “Thank You Tour” of NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, insisting there is no evidence that the chairman is using the exercise to pursue a flagbearership ambition.
His comments come amid internal political debate within the NDC over whether the tour is part of a future leadership campaign or simply a post-election appreciation exercise.
Responding to critics, Dafeamekpor challenged those making the claims to provide proof that Asiedu Nketia has declared any intention to contest for the party’s presidential candidacy.
He said:
“Show me where he said he wants to be flagbearer.”
He argued that the tour should not be misinterpreted, stressing that it began long before recent speculation and has been part of the party’s structured post-election engagement with grassroots supporters.
According to him, the exercise is rooted in appreciation for party faithful who contributed to the NDC’s electoral victory, and not a hidden political agenda.
“He’s been doing this tour from about April 2025… it is about thanking constituency executives and stakeholders who worked hard for the party,” he explained.
Dafeamekpor further noted that concerns had previously been raised within the party that supporters at the grassroots level had not been adequately appreciated after the NDC returned to power.
He said the “Thank You Tour” was therefore a collective party decision to reconnect leadership with supporters across constituencies, chiefs, and traditional authorities.
The South Dayi MP also dismissed suggestions that the visibility of the tour automatically translates into a leadership bid, insisting that political engagement should not be misread.
“So his movement to go to the people, to the constituencies, and thank party people and stakeholders… does not mean he is campaigning for flagbearership,” he added.
The comments follow ongoing political discourse within the NDC over succession dynamics, with some party members arguing that high-profile nationwide tours often precede internal leadership contests.
However, Dafeamekpor insists that in this case, there is no declared ambition, no official campaign, and no evidence backing the claim.
