One-time chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, is said to be unhappy with former President John Dramani Mahama over his choice of a running mate for the 2024 general elections.
The veteran politician insists that it is time to change Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, because, as the search continues, he, in particular, will speak loudly about his view on the matter without fear or favour.
In his latest writeup, intercepted by The Anchor, the former NDC chairman said he will speak against any choice that, “(a) marginalizes the Council of Elders and other relevant party organs, (b) pays no attention to the integrity of the choice, and (c) abuses the intelligence of Ghanaians.”
According to him, he will kick against any choice that “(d) is from a region that has had more than a fair share of opportunities, (e) is from a region that cannot garner adequate support for the party, (f) is a mumu without the intellectual capacity to address the real problems of the country and (g) or is a Trojan horse.”
The writeups were shared on a WhatsApp platform belonging to some former appointees of the PNDC regime, of which the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the erstwhile Jerry John Rawlings administration is a member.
Mr. Mahama, who is yet to name who will partner him in the upcoming general elections, according to The Anchor’s sources, is highly contemplating on picking Professor Naana Jane for the second time.
The two went into the 2020 election as flagbearer and running mate respectively but lost to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Even though the former education minister’s name is high on the agenda, Mr. Mahama is said to be casting his net wide, looking at other gentlemen as possible running mate.
But the former chairman is not the least enthused about the move, especially because the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast did not deliver the needed votes expected from her by the party in the last election.
The record shows that this is not the first time Dr. Obed Asamoah is kicking against the choice of the professor of literature.
Recall that, after the 2020 general election, the seasoned lawyer openly expressed his disapproval of the former education minister as a vice presidential candidate in that election because, according to him, she brought little or nothing to the ticket.
He maintained the NDC having chosen the professor and at each election selected either president or running mates from that part of the country, but she could still not bring the needed votes from the region she hails from.
Dr. Obed Asamoah, who spoke on JoyNews, said that, under Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s watch, the NDC lost a seat in her home constituency.
“The lady who is a running mate to Mahama lost the Central Region in the last election. Lost a whole constituency,” the former Attorney-General said.
The Anchor is informed that this stance by Dr. Asamoah has apparently not changed and, already, he has expressed his disapproval of the professor.
The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in his writeup, also points to the fact that many, including some stalwarts of the party, “are still unhappy that the very important issue of Running Mate to John Mahama was sprung on the party in 2020.”
He went on to say, “Again, the majority holds the view that John Mahama may not have made the ultimate choice in the selection of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as running mate, given the history of disappointing results from her home region over the years.
Dr. Obed Asamoah observed that, with the former education minister as Veep candidate, Mr. Mahama lost to President Akufo-Addo in excess of 78,000 votes, while in the parliamentary election of the same election, MPs outperformed the NDC flagbearer by over 90,000 votes.
He further said, “The anger of the party members is premised on the fact that since 1992, the NDC in each election has fielded a candidate from the Central Region either as a flagbearer or running mate in every election but the party continues to perform abysmally against the NPP.”
While disclosing the various concerns of party members and bigwigs concerning the running mate argument, the message also mentioned a movement to retain the professor, led by former High Commissioner to South Africa, Kwesi Ahwoi, has been activated to foist her on Mr. Mahama.
Also coming in strongly is another group he said is championing the candidature of Julius Debrah, a former Chief of Staff under Mr. Mahama.
Unfortunately for them, he said, those promoting this movement are unable to point to any tangibles the Mahama-Debrah candidature brings to the table, aside from banging their hopes on the massive protests against the former Vice Chancellor and the former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development closeness to the flagbearer.
“The wave of protests against the re-nomination of Naana Jane has therefore opened the gate very wide open for JM and the NDC to consider other options. Meanwhile, a movement for the retention of Naana Jane led by Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi and the so-called Fanti Confederacy aka Church Street Kingmakers are sticking to their grounds in making sure that Naana Jane is selected again for 2024.
“Another group that has recently emerged is promoting the candidacy of Hon Julius Debrah, the former Chief of Staff to John Mahama. While the proponents of his candidacy are unable to point to any specific advantages, they simply are relying on the wave of protests against Naana Jane and also his closeness to John Mahama,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, a former Minister of Communications, has subtly jabbed those running ahead of themselves over who is likely to partner Mr. Mahama.
According to Dr. Omane Boamah, who is also a practising medical doctor, “People must understand that Presidential candidates don’t choose Running mates based on PR gimmicks. The choice of a Running mate if well understood, will discourage many from the ongoing needless overturns.”
source: The Anchor Newspaper
