The vice president and the presidential nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia failed to introduce his proposed running mate to the NPP national council as advertised. Dr. Bawumia was expected to unveil his preferred candidate on Wednesday, December 6th 2023 at the party headquarters, but it ended in a fiasco.
By the party’s constitution, a presidential candidate is expected to select a running mate at least a month preceding an election year. The conventional practice is that the candidate’s choice will be introduced to the national council before being unveiled to Ghana. The NPP therefore expected the vice president to introduce to its hierarchy, the person he has settled on as running mate for further deliberations.
The national council is made up of people from the national executives and others from the council of elders. Although the meeting took place on the advertised date, however, the main agenda drew blanks because Dr Bawumia pleaded with the national council for enough time to conclude his broader deliberations and consultations before he makes a firm decision on the subject. Insiders have hinted The Ghanaian News that Dr. Bawumia would have preferred Prof. Kenneth Attafuah as a running mate, but a teaser of the professor’s candidature around NPP circuits did not fly, and that momentarily jolted his search lenses and therefore has to re-start all over again.
According to party General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, by unanimous decision, members of the NC agreed to Bawumia’s plea for an extension of time for his search for a presidential partner. NPP insiders have hinted that the party leadership is not only looking out for just a candidate but someone who can bring value to the NPP ticket going into election 2024. Such a person, in the estimation of party stalwarts, should have the added credential of a potential president who could easily step into the stead after a potential Bawumia presidency.
“We’ve taken a stance that our running mate or vice presidency should serve as an avenue for any such occupant of the position to use as the platform to groom himself/herself for a possible shot at the Ghanaian presidency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” one party chieftain told The Ghanaian News.
This could be the main reason why the NPP gave Dr Bawumia enough time to scan through all potential candidates and present the best for the NPP. In his media briefing after the running mate fiasco, Justin Kodua disclosed “Even though the Vice President and the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was required to have presented his running mate to the leadership of the party at its meeting today as required by the party’s constitution, the timeframe within which the party held its national delegates congress could not permit him, hence the decision by the leadership of the party to offer him additional time.”
He further explained, “Today should have been the day that our leader of the party and presidential candidate should have presented his running mate to the national council. However, upon request from the presidential candidate that’s because his election was done on the 4th of November ‘23, he needs a bit of time to continue with his consultation before he brings the proposed name for running mate to the national council. And this was unanimously agreed by the national council.” Among the names being considered are Mathew Opoku Prempreh, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Joseph Osei-Wusu, and Frema Opare among others.
Source: Richmond Keelson, Ontario
