Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has firmly dismissed suggestions of a 2028 presidential bid during a tense engagement with students at Tamale Technical University (TaTU), following violent protests that rocked the campus earlier this week.
The visit, held on Friday, came in the aftermath of demonstrations triggered by student grievances over tuition hikes, inadequate accommodation, and allegations of administrative heavy-handedness.
The protests escalated into violence, leading to the deployment of the Ghana Police Service’s Formed Police Unit.
Officers reportedly fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, resulting in multiple student injuries and drawing condemnation from civil society organizations.
During his address to the assembled students and university staff, a chant referencing a potential presidential run in 2028 briefly interrupted the proceedings — a nod to growing speculation within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the party’s future leadership after former President John Mahama’s expected exit from frontline politics post-2024.
Mr Iddrisu, however, swiftly shut down the suggestion, making it clear that he was present in his official capacity as Minister for Education, focused solely on addressing the campus unrest. His response prompted mixed reactions from the crowd but effectively shifted the discussion back to the core issues affecting students.
The Minister reiterated his concern about the violence on campus and emphasised the need for dialogue over confrontation.
He expressed a commitment to investigating the events and ensuring such incidents are not repeated. As part of that commitment, he announced plans to establish a fact-finding committee to examine the protest and the police response, to ensure transparency and accountability.
The incident arrives at a politically sensitive moment for the NDC, where conversations are quietly intensifying about the party’s next generation of leadership.
As a long-serving MP for Tamale South and former Minority Leader in Parliament, Iddrisu’s name has consistently surfaced in succession discussions.
Yet, his public dismissal of any presidential ambitions — at least for now — may be seen as a strategic deflection rather than a definitive statement of intent.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has not released a comprehensive report on the TaTU incident. Student leaders continue to allege excessive use of force, and advocacy groups such as the Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS) are calling for an independent investigation and compensation for those injured.
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