New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has been given permission by the party’s National Council to postpone the announcement of his running mate past the original December 6, 2023, deadline.

The decision was made in accordance with Article 13 of the NPP Constitution, which requires the running mate to be given a year’s notice before to general elections. Justin Frimpong Kodua, the party’s general secretary, revealed the decision at a press conference in Accra.

Dr. Bawumia asked for more time to consider his running mate selection at a crucial meeting of the NPP’s National Executive Council on December 6, given that December 7, 2023, precisely marks the start of the 12-month countdown to the 2024 elections. According to Mr. Kodua, the Council has complied with the request and is waiting on the flagbearer to provide a new date.

Meanwhile, the Council has moved the date of the incumbent Members of Parliament’s constituency primaries. The elections that were scheduled for January 20, 2024 have been rescheduled till January 27, 2024. Campaigning in these constituencies will not resume until the 2024 budget has been approved.

A number of notable individuals have surfaced as possible running mates: Apostle Opoku Onyinah, the most recent chairman of the Church of Pentecost; Isaac Osei, the former MP for Subin; Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency; Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the MP for Manhyia South and Minister of Energy; Joseph Osei Owusu, the MP for Bekwai and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, a seasoned politician and current Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister for Government Business; and Akosua Osei-Opare, the current Chief of Staff at the Presidency.