'Too early to discuss presidential bid’

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has dismissed conversations about a possible presidential ambition, describing them as premature and a distraction from the government's mandate.

He said the focus should remain on delivering on the promises made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government rather than speculating about who should lead the party into the 2028 general elections.

Dr Ato Forson made the remarks during an interview on Accra-based TV3's New Day programme on Friday, November 13, amid discussions about his possible presidential bid.

Responding to questions about pressure on him to contest the presidency, he said “Oh, it's too early to have this conversation. I don't think it's important at this stage,” he said.

The Finance Minister said the Mahama administration was elected on the back of an economic crisis and must concentrate on fulfilling its mandate.

“Please and please, that conversation must not happen at this stage. It will put the country off. It will only be a distraction on the mandate of His Excellency President Mahama, and so we have a responsibility to make sure that we deliver on that mandate,” he added.

Discussions about Dr Ato Forson's potential candidacy have intensified following opinion polls by Global InfoAnalytics on possible contenders to lead the NDC into the 2028 general elections.

In its September 2026 NDC delegates tracking poll, the research firm placed Dr Ato Forson ahead of NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, with 32 per cent support against 23 per cent.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu recorded 5 per cent, while 28 per cent of delegates remained undecided.

The survey, conducted between September 11 and 13, covered 3,615 NDC delegates across the 16 regions and had a reported margin of error of ±2.17 percentage points.

A separate breakdown of the poll among card-bearing NDC members put Dr Ato Forson at 40 per cent, ahead of Mr Asiedu Nketia, who recorded 29 per cent, and Mr Iddrisu, who polled 15 per cent.

Global InfoAnalytics also tested a hypothetical 2028 presidential contest between Dr Ato Forson and former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the Ashanti and Eastern regions.

The findings put Dr Bawumia at 46 per cent and Dr Ato Forson at 43 per cent, a difference the pollster described as within the margin of error.