My brothers, all is not well on the ground behind big brother JDM’s government – Stephen Atubigah

In an Official Facebook Post on 21 October 2026, political commentator and founder of the National Liberation Congress (NLC), Stephen Atubigah, issued a stark public warning to the brothers of President John Dramani Mahama—Alfred, Michael, Peter, and Ibrahim Mahama. His commentary painted a troubling picture of internal party friction, administrative paralysis, and growing grassroots discontent within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

Addressing the President’s brothers directly, Atubigah warned of impending political backlash if immediate interventions are not made behind the scenes: “My brothers, all is not well on the ground behind big brother JDM’s government. If you do not immediately take strategic positions behind the scenes to support JDM and help him run his government alongside the party structure — just as former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s family did for him during his crisis — you will see stones thrown at leadership towards the 2028 elections. People will remove their shoes and sandals and run for their lives from the anger of the grassroots. Are you all pretending you don’t know that JDM’s government is collapsing internally? Shame on us all.”

Atubigah highlighted specific administrative and financial bottlenecks crippling governance, blaming strict fiscal controls by the Ministry of Finance for stalling ministerial operations across sector ministries. He further alleged a deepening rift between the executive and the NDC leadership: “All his sector Ministers are not functioning because funds are not being released by the Finance Minister. The requirement for clearance from the Finance Minister has crippled the Ministers… The NDC party leadership is boycotting Cabinet meetings. Most of them are boycotting appointment committees, allowing wrong people to be appointed into strategic positions, and the NDC is paying the price.”

Expanding on grassroots grievances and security sector issues, Atubigah lamented the perceived abandonment of election foot soldiers and party operatives who campaigned for the NDC’s 2024 victory. He pointed to underfunded national security outfits and the neglect of local party youth, writing: “Grassroots foot soldiers have not received their employment letters as promised during the elections. Less than 10,000 of our boys and girls — grassroots foot soldiers and party security across all 276 constituencies who broke their backs during the elections — have been left to rot. How can you sack our own boys, in their own uniform, from the Castle? Where should they go? Will we not need them in 2028?”

The open post comes against the backdrop of rising internal discussions regarding government appointments, public spending discipline, and post-election party welfare. While President Mahama’s administration has prioritized fiscal consolidation and systemic expenditure clearance to stabilize public finances, grassroots party members and political organizers have increasingly voiced frustration over delayed patronage, slow public sector recruitment, and perceived distance between executive appointees and local party structures.

Observers note that Atubigah’s commentary draws a direct parallel to the political climate of 2016, when internal party disaffection and communication breakdowns between the presidency and grassroots organizers contributed to the NDC’s electoral setback. By invoking the support model of former President Akufo-Addo’s family network, Atubigah argues that informal advisory channels and family backing are essential for managing political pressure and maintaining party harmony.

At its core, the statement serves as an urgent wake-up call regarding political party sustainability and executive accountability. Atubigah’s remarks emphasize that electoral success relies heavily on sustained grassroots mobilization, warning presidential aides and close associates—specifically mentioning Callistus, James, and Braimah—that political power is fleeting and public accessibility must be preserved.

The Facebook post has triggered intense discussion across political circles, media networks, and social media platforms. Supporters of Atubigah’s message echoed his concerns, arguing that government appointees must engage more directly with party members and address grassroots welfare to safeguard political stability. Conversely, government defenders dismissed allegations of internal collapse, maintaining that fiscal discipline and structured appointment procedures are necessary steps to restore institutional integrity and economic stability. Regardless of perspective, the fiery intervention has placed internal NDC governance and grassroots relations at the center of public discourse.

Source: Stephen Atubigah, Official Facebook Post, 21 October 2026