Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar, has emerged as a notable figure in Ghana's political landscape with his New Force Movement. He claims that his group is a movement he started to improve Ghana's lot in life rather than a political party.
As political branding strategies go, it was a creative and triumphant entry into Ghana’s political landscape. In a terrain ruled by two main parties-the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-Bediako or ‘Cheddar’ as he is popularly known, needed this bang to be recognised or taken seriously, even if momentarily.
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In order to convey his vision for the future of the nation, the presidential candidate has recently stepped up his campaign and is now traveling to every region.
When Mr. Bediako visited Swedru over the weekend as part of his "276 Tour" of the Central Region, he informed his followers, "Neither New Force nor I represent any political party. He claims that he wants Ghanaians to remember him for his messages rather than his "T-shirts," urging them to cast their ballots for him in the elections that are coming up in December.
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He has promised that if he is elected president, he will industrialize Ghana.
Mr. Bediako asserted that, except from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's administration, Ghana has been lacking in the essential progress for decades. Ghana's riches, such gold and cocoa, are frequently given to foreigners before Ghanaians can profit from them, according to Nana Kwame Bediako, who also criticized the current administration for being dishonest.
Additionally, he advised Ghanaians, particularly the younger generation, to not be duped by the current administration, "who have failed the people, leaving them with no jobs, no future, and no hope despite years spent in institutions and organizations," he stated.
Mr. Bediako emphasized, "If we don't do something, something will do something to us," and he urged Ghanaians to have the guts to turn down political parties' hollow promises.
Political parties in Ghana are regulated under the Political Parties Act 574 passed in 2000. This spells out how political parties may be founded, registered and operated.
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Backed NDC in 2020 election. During the Third Republic, the following list of parties contested the 1979 general election. The All People's Party was a merger of the opposition parties in parliament formed later. All parties in the Third Republic were banned following the military coup d'etat on 31 December 1981.
The Second Republic spanned the period from October 1969 to 13 January 1972. This was the period when the Progress Party came to power with Kofi Busia as Prime Minister and Akufo-Addo as ceremonial President. It ended with the military coup d'état which brought the National Redemption Council military government into power.
Ghanaian natives were allowed to stand for elections into the Legislative Assembly.
He is, quite rightly, aware he doesn’t have the structures his two formidable rivals possess. The NPP and NDC are buttressed by extensive and well-oiled nationwide apparatuses powered by intricate support and incentive systems, relationships between different actors and deep affective ties that have been meticulously built for decades. Moreover despite the urban centres looming large in public consciousness and migrations from villages to cities, the scholar Robin Harding observes that Ghana is a ‘rural democracy’.
In the interview from which I quote the above statement, Bediako likens himself to inspirational political insurgents beyond Ghana’s past. Topping the list are Peter Obi in Nigeria and Donald Trump in the US. Bediako and the TNF are convinced they can replicate these men’s successes in galvanising massive supporters for their political ambitions. Across the world, revolutionary populism is fueled by charisma and a moral imperative.
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Despite Trump’s many personal failings and lack of political experience, he largely galvanised people by capitalising on the value of being an ‘authentic’ businessman capable of ‘keeping it real’ about America’s decline. He spilled ‘facts’ dwellers of the ‘deep-state’ were unwilling to voice let alone address (Michael Serazo’s new book examines the power of this). In Nigeria, where corruption pervades the political system, Obi was seen as a ‘clean’ presidential candidate by his young ‘Obidient’ supporters-pointing again to the power of moral framing. In Ghana, however, Bediako’s personality and the public’s unenthusiastic reception of him make it difficult, if not impossible, for him to cut himself from the same moralising cloth as Trump and Obi have done.
David Pilling’s profile of Bediako in the Financial Times diligently unveils people’s perceptions of him and his claims to want to ‘save’ Ghana. Pilling quotes Daniel, a mall worker in Ghana’s capital: ‘We know him [Bediako], but he’s something like a joke’…‘I don’t think he’s going to be president.’ This remark makes sense only in context. On Instagram and in the news, Bediako is ‘known’ for his extravagant, gold-riddled and fanciful dress choices intended to attract attention and most importantly showcase his real-estate wealth. Stories of his life abound: his son attends an exclusive private school and wore an expensive watch to an annual prom party; he has imported tigers from Dubai, flaunting them in pictures uploaded to Instagram; and though he is not a member of neither of the armed forces, he frequently dresses in ceremonial army and navy uniforms. On social media, many have consumed and ‘liked’ his content, probably as mild reprieves from their own mundane, if not stagnating lives. But his sudden assertion of being the bearer of Ghana’s ‘salvation’, no matter the seriousness he musters to say it or the calibre of individuals that stand behind him as he utters it, has been met with ridicule.
On the billboards and during his campaign, the extravagant clothes, golden bracelets and gold-studded caps have disappeared. In their place are simple caftans and unbuttoned shirts. This about-face is a tireless effort to retire the image of extravagance and wealth he once worked hard to imprint on the minds of Ghanaians. But that image appears to resist easy erasure, which is partly why a subReddit page Cheddar can’t be trusted exists.
The phenomena eating into Bediako and his movement’s prospects constitute ‘the moral economy’. In a recent book, The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa, by Nic Cheeseman, Gabrielle Lynch, and Justin Willis, they find that to succeed, politicians must market themselves as ‘good leaders’. Instead, ‘good leaders’ ought to make sound moral claims that reflect honesty, a readiness to serve, an ability to provide ‘development’, a willingness to struggle for people’s interests, and a capacity to mobilise constituencies into effective networks of power and resources. The biggest spenders in elections who fail to accompany their money gifts with such moral claims usually don’t win. In Ghana, many know the story of Alan Kyeremateng who earned the nickname ‘Cash’ by giving out money to party delegates in the hope of securing the NPP’s ticket.
In light of this, many perceive Bediako as a businessman given to self-interest and self-promotion, undue extravagance, showiness, profligacy and frivolity. He is certainly not a candidate many cash-strapped Ghanaians want to put their hopes in while facing a once-in-a-generation economic crisis. (He promises to extend Ghana’s coast to the Ashanti hinterlands).
To counter despairing narratives about his personal and political ambitions, Bediako has sought to amplify his identity as a kind ‘philanthropist’.
Bediako is a candidate on a tall list of people deemed ‘unserious’ but want to run for the presidency. Here, Akua Donkor, Kwasi Odike, Mahama Ayariga come to mind. It would take Bediako a lifetime of work to undo his current image. In this regard his slogan ‘leadership for the next generation’ appears apt.
The moral hurdles of Bediako and his movement reveal the difficulties of mobilising new political parties and non-party movements to foster transformative changes in dominant-party democracies. Beyond structures, moral norms and values operating in a given political system or culture can either pose headaches or facilitate such insurgent political endeavours.
“We believe that if we have to wait three months, we are guaranteed to get this license. We wouldn’t have a two-month campaign or market spot. I want to assure you that I will keep on proceeding with this party after this election.
“I acknowledge the fact that the EC will be doing a mop up exercise from August 1st - 3rd and will register people who weren’t able to register during the limited voters registration. Continuous voter registration will empower more Ghanaians to participate in the electoral process, especially the youth and those in remote areas.
Bediako attended Waltham Forest College in England, where he engaged in small-scale trading, including selling clothes and shoes from the boot of his car. Nana Kwame Bediako was born in Ghana on February 13, 1980. Bediako is the son of Elizabeth Adjei, a philanthropist, and Samuel Kojo Bediako, a commodities trader and businessman involved in the oil industry.
Bediako is also the founder of Wonda World, a real estate development company. The company has developed properties including No. 1 Oxford Street, Kwarleyz Residences, and Bel Air Crest. No. Bediako is the founder of Petronia City, a proposed 2,000-acre industrial development in Ghana's Western Region. The project is intended to serve as a hub for energy, petrochemical, and technology industries within a free zone enclave. Initially announced in 2013, Petronia City has faced various funding and regulatory hurdles.
Bediako is the founder of the New Africa Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports various humanitarian initiatives across Africa. In 2023, following the Turkey-Syria earthquake, the foundation organized aid efforts including the construction of a temporary shelter settlement. It also provided relief to flood victims in Mepe after the Akosombo Dam spillage.
In 2023, Shalimar Abbiusi, spokesperson for The New Force, was arrested by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and charged with allegedly falsifying her residence permit. Although the case was later dropped, she was reportedly re-arrested at the court premises by personnel from the military, immigration, and National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and subsequently deported.[33] Bediako later brought the case before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, claiming the deportation violated her human rights.[34] The court ruled in favor of the complainant, prompting discussions in Ghanaian media and legal circles.
On January 7, 2024, Bediako, in collaboration with the New Africa Foundation, organized an event titled The Convention.[36] The gathering was intended as a pan-African forum, scheduled to take place at Accra's Black Star Square, a historically significant site where Ghana's independence was declared by Dr. Promoted as a platform to discuss Africa's future and continental unity, the event aimed to bring together influential figures from various regions of the continent. Among the scheduled speakers were Professor P. L. O. Lumumba of Kenya, known for his advocacy of Pan-Africanism; Dr. The Office of the President cancelled the event shortly before it was scheduled to take place.
Following the cancellation, military personnel and national security forces were deployed to the venue, helicopters were observed over Independence Square, and access to the area was restricted.
The New Force movement and its founder, Bediako, received international media attention following the unveiling of his identity. The Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Africa Report reported on the political developments and growing interest in the movement across Africa.[41][42][43] Media coverage extended beyond Ghana, with reports appearing in European outlets, including publications in Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Coverage in over 30 African countries focused on themes of political change and civil response to the movement.
In preparation for the 2024 presidential election, Bediako launched a national listening tour across all sixteen regions of Ghana.
According to the New Force movement, the aim of the tour was to engage directly with citizens, identify regional challenges, and assess socio-economic conditions. The New Force later stated that the tour revealed significant regional disparities in development, with Accra identified as the only region experiencing consistent economic activity.
Bediako initially sought to register the New Force as a political party with the Electoral Commission of Ghana. In 2024, Bediako criticized the Electoral Commission of Ghana for what he described as an inadequate voter registration period. At a press conference in Accra, he stated that the 20-day window for registering new voters was insufficient and noted that the timing overlapped with examinations for many 18-year-olds eligible to vote for the first time.[49] He called for an extension of the registration period and raised concerns about voter access. Bediako also responded publicly to media figures, including journalist Kwame Sefa Kayi, who initially disputed his concerns.
In early 2024, Bediako launched a policy framework titled "The 12 Pillars for Economic Freedom", which he presented virtually-reportedly the first such launch of its kind in Ghana. The framework focused on areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, job creation, and governance reforms. According to statements from Bediako and the New Force, the policy was informed by research into Ghana's mineral resources and agricultural potential, which they claimed could generate significant economic returns and employment opportunities.[51] The launch included symbolic gestures, such as Bediako arriving on stage in a truck to signify his intent to work for the people.
The New Force claimed that some elements of the 12 Pillars were later echoed by other political leaders across Africa.
Following the policy launch, Bediako initiated a national campaign tour across all 276 constituencies in Ghana. As part of the tour, Bediako undertook several philanthropic activities, including the installation of boreholes to improve access to clean water, the distribution of agricultural tools, and the establishment of community farms focused on avocados, oranges, guinea fowl, and fish.
One event during the tour involved Bediako's efforts to mediate between two traditional leaders, the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Bediako has expressed concern about illegal small-scale mining in Ghana, commonly known as galamsey. In public statements, he proposed measures including detaining foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities, and called for cooperation from foreign governments to address the issue.
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, Bediako visited various mining areas to observe the environmental effects of galamsey. He later released a two-part documentary titled Dark-umentary, which explored the historical and socio-economic factors contributing to the rise of illegal mining.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Bediako addressed an audience at the UK Parliament, where he discussed Africa's development challenges and international relations. In his remarks, he introduced a policy proposal referred to as the "Seven Pillars," aimed at addressing economic issues across the continent.
During the 2024 presidential election cycle in Ghana, Bediako raised concerns about the balloting procedure used by the Electoral Commission.
Bediako and his campaign team have also cited several instances they believe reflect political bias.
Bediako's wealth and lifestyle have been the subject of media coverage in Ghana and internationally. His business ventures, including the creation of a private museum and ownership of luxury vehicles, have contributed to his public visibility. Media outlets have occasionally compared him to historical African figures such as Mansa Musa.
In 2022, Bediako attracted media attention for housing two tigers, named Kunta and Kinte, in a residential area in Ghana. He later stated that the animals were kept temporarily while a dedicated wildlife facility was being constructed.[67] The incident prompted public debate and concern over the legality and safety of keeping wild animals in urban areas.
According to statements attributed to Bediako, his interest in keeping tigers stemmed from a desire to challenge perceptions about animal domestication and to promote wildlife tourism in Ghana.
Bediako announced the launch of a cryptocurrency called Freedom Coin on March 6, coinciding with Ghana's Independence Day.
Bediako's political platform, known as The New Force, has positioned itself as a challenger to Ghana's traditional political parties. He has framed the movement as focused on generational leadership, resource sovereignty, and economic transformation. His public speeches frequently include calls for African nations to assert control over their natural resources and to rethink their global economic relationships.
The Managing News Editor of the Newscenta newspaper, Elvis Darko, has described Nana Kwame Bediako’s New Force movement as the best political alternative for Ghana’s youth outside of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, despite being a newcomer to the country's political landscape, Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar, made a strong statement in the 2024 general elections by polling nearly three times more votes than former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen.
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