The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, appeared to take a subtle swipe at National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah by describing President John Dramani Mahama’s post-election outreach as the party’s “proper” thank-you tour.

Speaking in Sawla in the Savannah Region on Friday (22 May), Iddrisu distinguished Mahama’s outreach efforts from another recent party engagement led by Asiedu Nketiah.

“I recall when President Mahama came for his thank you tour — not the other thank you tour — the proper thank you tour of President Mahama as President and flagbearer,” he said.

He later added: “What cannot be said? We can say it. A proper thank you tour of President Mahama, not the curtain-raiser one.”

The remarks came on the same day Asiedu Nketiah defended the parliamentary leadership reshuffle that removed Iddrisu as Minority Leader and replaced him with Cassiel Ato Forson ahead of the 2024 elections.

The restructuring, announced in January 2023, triggered resistance within sections of the party and generated tensions over the leadership changes in Parliament.

Asiedu Nketiah, speaking during his own thank-you tour in Tamale, said the changes were necessary to improve the NDC’s electoral prospects.

According to him, the party required a stronger “forward line” in Parliament to enhance its chances of defeating the then-ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2024 election.

The NDC later secured victory in the election, with both Iddrisu and former Chief Whip Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak subsequently receiving senior appointments in Mahama’s administration.

Iddrisu did not elaborate on his reference to a “curtain-raiser” tour, but the remarks may intensify discussions over lingering tensions and internal reconciliation efforts within the governing NDC.