Days before Ghana's general elections, Rosemond Obeng, the former National TESCON Coordinator and aide to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), made news by defecting to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Obeng's defection joins a rising number of well-known politicians who have switched allegiance between Ghana's two main parties, including Alhaji Inusah Issaka, Kakra Essamuah, and Frances Essiam.

Rosemond Obeng stated during an appearance on GHOne's State of Affairs program that she left the NPP because she felt Dr. Bawumia had the leadership skills needed to properly govern the nation. "I am aware that my former boss lacks the critical leadership that we need." Citing her own experience working closely with Dr. Bawumia, she stated, "Bad leadership leads to poor results, output, and performance."

Given that she openly thanked Dr. Bawumia for funding her additional education just two years prior, her defection and the comments that followed have caused a great deal of controversy on social media, with many people doubting her commitment and motivations.

Obeng's departure is consistent with a trend in Ghanaian politics where important members of the NDC and NPP have defected, frequently creating political repercussions. Following an alleged attack by party members in 2005, Frances Essiam, the former National Women's Organiser of the NDC, also quit the party and joined the NPP. Alhaji Inusah Issaka's defection to the NDC in the 1990s, after accusing the NPP of rigging the 1996 elections, was arguably the most contentious; political experts referred to him as a "political prostitute."

Given that Rosemond Obeng publicly criticized Dr. Bawumia after formerly holding a position close to the NPP leadership, her defection has garnered notice. How this will affect the political climate in the run-up to the elections in December is still up in the air.