There is a quiet storm brewing in the corridors of the John Mahama administration and if the latest murmurs from the party’s own digital backyard are anything to go by, the internal friction is far from over. The NDC 360 Facebook page, a platform that proved to be a formidable powerhouse for the party during the 2024 election victory, has dropped a bombshell. The allegation is simple but heavy. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, is reportedly tightening the purse strings on the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, in what many describe as a calculated attempt to keep the Tamale South strongman in the shadows.
While we cannot independently verify these claims of financial strangulation at the Treasury level, the source of the leak is what makes political watchers sit up. NDC 360 is not just any random page. It was the heartbeat of the party’s grassroots communication that brought the NDC back to power. For such an outlet to turn its guns on the Finance Minister suggests that the unity the government portrays in Cabinet meetings is merely a thin coat of paint over a crumbling wall.
Education Sacrificed for the “Flagbearer” Race
The timing of these allegations is particularly troubling when one looks at the state of our schools. Today, the case is being made that the education of the Ghanaian child is being sacrificed on the altar of a presidential ambition. Since Dr. Ato Forson took over the national purse, his critics have often accused him of being more interested in building his own political profile for 2028 than in the bread and butter issues affecting the classroom.
Reports suggest that while other ministries see quick releases, the Ministry of Education is forced to beg for every cedi. When the Finance Minister is allegedly busy “starving” the Education Minister of resources needed for critical school infrastructure and teacher welfare, where is the focus on the “Reset” agenda? It appears the Dr. Forson era at the Finance Ministry is characterized more by a vindictive agenda against a potential rival than by a vision for national development.
The Global InfoAnalytics Reality Check
To understand why this is happening now, one only needs to look at the latest data from Global InfoAnalytics. The research house recently released figures suggesting a significant shift in the NDC’s internal power dynamics. The data shows that Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is now the closest figure to the party’s Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, in terms of influence.
This rising profile seems to have emboldened the Finance Minister. However, it also highlights the threat posed by Haruna Iddrisu. Haruna remains a beloved figure in the northern regions and is widely seen as a natural successor to President Mahama. If the polls show Ato Forson gaining ground among the party elite, the logical move for a man with presidential eyes would be to clip the wings of his most popular Cabinet colleague. By allegedly starving the Education Ministry of funds, the goal is clear: make Haruna look incompetent and irrelevant before the 2028 conversation begins.
A History of Orchestration
Lest we forget, this isn’t the first time the “Ato Forson machine” has moved against Haruna. Many still recall the high stakes drama that saw Haruna Iddrisu removed as Minority Leader back in 2023 to make way for Ato Forson. It was a move many believe was orchestrated to give Forson the platform he now enjoys. Today, that same vindictive energy seems to have followed them into government.
Haruna Iddrisu, for his part, has maintained a dignified silence. He has not openly complained, choosing instead to focus on his duties at the Education Ministry. But in politics, silence is often the loudest sound. The fact that the NDC’s own support pages are now shouting on his behalf tells a story of a man being pushed to the wall by a colleague who holds the keys to the vault.
The Credibility Gap
When you compare this to the record of the New Patriotic Party, the difference is clear. While the NPP focused on policy continuity and ensuring funds reached social interventions like Free SHS, the current NDC leadership is trapped in a cycle of “pull him down.” How can a government that cannot manage the relationship between its Finance and Education ministers be trusted to lead Ghana into a prosperous future?
If Dr. Ato Forson is indeed using his position to settle old scores while our children wait for resources, then the Ghanaian voter must take note. The NDC 360 allegations might just be the tip of the iceberg. As it stands, the ambition of one man at the Finance Ministry is threatening to derail the focus of the entire government, leaving Haruna Iddrisu and the education sector as the silent victims of a party that eats its own.
