Private legal practitioner and outspoken political analyst, Martin Kpebu, has weighed in on growing conversations about the future political ambitions of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, September 18, Mr. Kpebu argued that Mr. Nketiah’s biggest challenge in seeking the presidency would not be his competence, experience, or popularity within the NDC — but rather, public perception about his appearance.

“The elephant in the room is that, when it comes to optics generally — speaking bluntly — the issue is that Asiedu Nketiah doesn’t usually look the part. But I’m sure it can be managed, because then we look beyond optics,” Kpebu said.

He acknowledged that Asiedu Nketiah, affectionately called “General Mosquito,” enjoys significant goodwill within the NDC and has a solid political track record. However, he noted that critics — including the late former President Jerry John Rawlings — have often questioned whether Nketiah projects a “presidential look.”

Mr. Kpebu cautioned Ghanaians against allowingoptics to become the main criterion for leadership, making a direct comparison to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration.
“People have said it several times that Akufo-Addo came with accent and the swag, but ended up as the worst President with corruption,” he said, emphasizing that appearance and style do not guarantee effective leadership.

Despite the concerns over public perception, Kpebu believes Asiedu Nketiah has a strong chance of winning the presidency — provided he contests and secures the party’s ticket for the 2028 general elections.Political watchers say Nketiah’s recent post-election “thank-you tour” could be part of a subtle strategy to strengthen his grassroots appeal ahead of the NDC’s flagbearer race. Whether he can overcome the “optics” hurdle and convince Ghanaians that he is presidential material remains to be seen.