It has become a chicken and egg situation for the choice of the Running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections. But polls and predictions have projected that John Mahama and the NDC will pull a surprise and the country at large by choosing a vice president from the Ashanti Region.
As all political parties in the country are clearing the road to push their Presidential Candidates to take the baton from the New Patriotic Party (NPP)to steer the affairs of the country. The National Democratic Congress NDC) with its flagbearer John Mahama is optimistic that the 2024 general elections will be a smooth victory for the party since the newly elected flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)Dr Bawumia is part of the Akufo-Addo’s mismanagement of the country’s economy.
The New Patriotic Party led by President Akufo-Addo has also indicated that the Ghanaians are not ready to return power to the NDC, especially under the leadership of John Mahama. Now the two political giants from the established two parties in the country NDC and NPP are the political parties to watch in the upcoming General elections slated for December 7, 2024.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia securing the NPP’s flagbearer position, the stage now set for an intense and closely watched presidential race in 2024 polls who are both from the North.
Bawumia, an economist and experienced politician, will go head-to-head with John Mahama, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in a bid to become president of Ghana.
It is believed Ghana’s 2024 presidential election will be scaled on a contest of ideas, policy proposals, and political visions. Bawumia’s background in economic policy and governance will be at the forefront, as he aims to lead the country with a platform centred on economic growth, development, and stability.
John Mahama, a former president and experienced statesman, will present his own vision for Ghana’s future.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia a northern Muslim’s victory in the NPP primaries is really a profound development in Ghana’s political landscape, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive 2024 presidential election.
As the two major political parties, the NPP and NDC, prepare to battle it out at the polls come 2024, Ghanaians can look forward to a campaign that will shape the nation’s future and determine its path for the generation yet to come let’s watch closely how things unfold come 2024.
Meanwhile, a deep-throat source close to the NDC party headquarters and Council of Elders has disclosed the widely held view that Mahama’s running mate must be picked from the Ashanti Region.
The Otumfour Ahenenana, Nana Kwame Mensah- Bonsu has waded into the controversy surrounding the choosing of a running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, the NDC selecting a running mate from Ashanti region will be advantageous on the chances of the party to sweep more votes from the region to cancel the NPP monopoly.
He said “There are huge Votes in the Ashanti region but from the inception of NDC no one from the Ashanti Region has been named as the running mate. Now that the NDC has elected John Mahama as the Presidential candidate, if there is an opportunity to choose a vice president. I suggest he appoint someone from the Ashanti Region. And if indeed will choose someone from the Ashanti Region then I strongly suggest he choose my brother Akwasi Opong-Fosu because he has worked tirelessly for the NDC. He was once a DCE in Obuasi, and worked at the local government level. Now you can go and see how he has transformed tepa, now tepa is like Kumasi all because of the good policies he put in place. Moreover, his credibility is superb and he’s a refined person with a good reputation everybody can testify. I’m begging Mr Mahama to consider him, I do always pray that John Mahama will appoint him because as a native of tred3 when he becomes vice president it will be in the good interest of Asanteman”
The name Akwasi Opong-Fosu has been a household name in the politics of the Ashanti region. The man in question has helped several political positions in the NDC and he will really perform magic when selected as the running mate of the NDC.
For over 40 years of distinguished public service career inspired by a motivation to impact on the progress and well-being of people and society at large. He accomplished technocrat who headed Ghana’s largest public service organisation the local government service which has the responsibility to ensure the effective and efficient administration and management of Local Governments.
An esteemed political office holder in the capacity of the mayor, member of Parliament, and ministerial portfolios in local government; Environment, science, technology, and innovation; Minister of state at the presidency responsible for development authorities.
Fact Checked
- PNDC DISTRICT SECRETARY/DCE
(1982-1985, ADANSI DISTRICT COUNCIL, OBUASI)
1985-2000, AHAFO ANO DISTRICT ASSEMBLY, TEPA)Youngest (24 years) and longest serving DCE ( 18 years)
- Deputy Minister for Local Government ( 2000-2001)
- Acting Minister for Local Government (2009)
- Head of Local Government Service (2009-2012)
- Minister of Local Government (2013-2014 )
- Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation ( 2014-2015)
- Minister of State at the Presidency for Development Authorities ( 2015-2016)
He slammed Akufo-Addo for his failure to bring developmental projects to the Ashanti Region.
He accused President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party NPP of taking the Ashanti Region for granted, stating all visible infrastructure developments in the heart of the Ashanti region were the projects of the NDC under the leadership of John Mahama.
Otumfour Ahenenana urged the NDC and its leader John Mahama to consider choosing a Running mate from the Ashanti region to provide fertile grounds for balancing of tickets.
Meanwhile, it is a widely held opinion within the rank and file of the NDC that the choice of Professor Nana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate in the 2024 elections failed to deliver victory for the party in the Central Region has always been the case since 1992 when a candidate from that region has featured on the ticket either as flagbearer or running mate.
As in the case of Ashanti region as reaffirmed by Otumfour Ahenenana, big guns and the council of elders in the party have the strong conviction that it will be prudent to combat power to the World Bank of the NPP by choosing a Running mate from the Ashanti Region.
A recent survey conducted by the Africa Centre For Security and Intelligence Studies (ACSIS)projected that the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)must consider selecting a running mate from the Ashanti Region if indeed the party takes power from the inept NPP comes 2024 general elections.
ACSIS recommended that the running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)should come from the Ashanti Region because the Region
has always defined the electoral fortunes of the NDC and NPP.
Each time the NDC pulls votes comparatively in the Ashanti Region by obtaining anything close to 30% or above of votes in that region, the NDC presidential candidate wins the presidency, and it is was this background that the running must come from the Ashanti Region.
Furthermore, it is against all odds that the majority of the members of the NDC are advocating that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) consider selecting a running mate from the Ashanti Region.
According to the Elders and rank and file of the party, if John Mahama chooses a candidate from the region. It would be easier for the party to increase its vote in the region.
They indicated that the party will have a lot to gain if it chooses an Asante as the battleground and induce indigenous people to lead the charge and vote massively for NDC.
In choosing the running mate from the Ashanti Region, majority of NDC members, party sympathisers, and Elders are yearning for a candidate from the region ” the statement said.
The author of this piece is Maxwell Mensah, a writer, researcher, and social commentator. You can reach him on mensahm1815@gmail.com
