Eric Opoku to join NDC flagbearer race – Report

 

The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South and current Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, is reportedly preparing to enter the race to become the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The news was revealed by Omanhene Kwabena Asante, a respected journalist with Asempa FM, who disclosed that his sources have confirmed Mr. Opoku’s firm decision to contest the party’s top position.

“This is confirmed. My own fellow Ahafo man, Eric Opoku, will contest,” Omanhene stated on-air. “Julius Debrah from the Eastern Region will also contest.”

According to the journalist, both Opoku and the current Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, have moved beyond speculation and are preparing to formally launch their campaigns to lead the NDC into the post-Mahama era.

With President John Dramani Mahama expected to complete his constitutionally mandated final term in 2029, the NDC is heading for a competitive internal contest that could reshape the party’s leadership going into the next electoral cycle.

Profile: Eric Opoku

Eric Opoku has been a key figure within the NDC for over two decades. First elected to Parliament in 2004, he briefly lost his seat in 2008, but made a strong comeback and has since been re-elected in 2012, 2016, 2020, and most recently in 2024, when he secured 57.40% of the votes.

His public service record includes serving as Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister from 2009 to 2013, and as a ranking member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee in Parliament. In January 2025, he was appointed as Minister for Food and Agriculture, where he is currently spearheading reforms aimed at boosting Ghana’s agricultural productivity.

Mr. Opoku’s decision to vie for the flagbearership signals the start of what promises to be a high-stakes contest within the NDC, as it seeks to consolidate its base and present a strong candidate ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The party is yet to officially open nominations for the flagbearership race, but the early interest from influential figures like Eric Opoku and Julius Debrah suggests the internal battle for leadership could be both strategic and fiercely contested.