Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has raised concerns about the perception challenges Johnson Asiedu Nketia might face if he were to contest for Ghana’s presidency.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show with Kojo Yankson, Kpebu acknowledged that Asiedu Nketia could win, but cautioned that optics remain “the elephant in the room.”
“Let’s be blunt, okay. The issue is that Asiedu Nketia doesn’t usually look the part,” Kpebu said. He suggested that, in Ghanaian politics, physical appearance and style often weigh heavily on voter perception.
To illustrate his point, he referenced past experiences with leaders who were celebrated for their charisma but failed in governance.
“People said [a former president] had swag. Where did we land? We ended up with the worst indices—corruption, disempowerment, economy, everything tanked.
“So, it means that there will come a time where we may have to look beyond the optics,” he argued.
Kpebu noted that Rawlings once made similar observations about Asiedu Nketia, stressing that the NDC chairman commands strong grassroots support.
However, he also pointed out that while Nketia is visible, his potential competitors within the NDC are busy with official responsibilities and building influence in different ways.
By his assessment, Asiedu Nketia’s chances will depend not only on the party’s endorsement but also on whether voters are willing to look past perception issues and focus on competence and track record.
