Mr. Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of the Ashanti Regional Capital, Kumasi, has declared his intention to contest the Flagbearership slot for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Mr Bonsu, despite the already known contenders who will be vying for the flagbearership of the NDC, he is equally up to the task of becoming the official Presidential aspirant of the party.
Speaking in an interview, the former Mayor disclosed that he stands a good chance of winning the flagbearership position.
“I’m a bit younger, and also I have been with the grassroots, I’m a grassroots man and I understand the dynamics of the party. I stand a very good chance, a very very good chance.
“I am ready to serve, and ready to bring a new leadership to NDC. I have got a very good chance. Rome was not built in a day so I cannot sit here and say I’m going to win, it requires hardwork and fight hard.”
Mr Bonsu
Mr Bonsu, however, acknowledged that vying for such a position is challenging because of the contenders involved. “I have been going round to speak to them. It’s challenging. The challenge is not easy,” he stated.
The former Mayor emphasized that, former President John Dramani Mahama, who will be one of his opponents, has done well for Ghana and deserves respect, however, democracy requires that others contend the flagbearership slot too. He explained: “You’re fighting with a former President who has done so much for Ghana and also for the party, but because of democracy and acceptance, because of that, you’ll go through difficulties.
“Because the former President has done a lot for Ghana, great work and we have to always commend him for what he’s done but every good turn deserves another, we give him the highest respect of the land.
“He has done alot but because of democracy, we all must contest.”
Mr Bonsu
Primaries
Meanwhile, the NDC will be holding its Primaries to elect a flagbearer for the party and parliamentary candidates for the 2024 elections, on Saturday May 13, 2023.
Per the timetable outlined by the party on Wednesday, January 18, interested individuals are expected to pick up nomination forms from the party’s website or its headquarters.
For Parliamentary aspirants, Picking up of forms will begin from Monday 22nd to 24th of February 2023 on the party’s website at a fee of GH¢5,000 and submission at a fee of GH¢40,000 from March 20 to March 22. Subsequently, vetting for the aspirants will be held from 27th to 29th March.
Presidential aspirants are expected to pick up forms from the party’s head office from the 22nd to 24th of February. The party’s doors will be opened for submission of forms from the 20th to 22nd March 2023. Vetting of the Presidential aspirants will also take place from 27th to 29th March.
Fee charges for picking up forms go for GH¢30,000 while the filing fees go for GH¢500,000.
However the party has stated that women and persons living with disabilities will pay 50% of all charges should they decide to pick up forms to contest.
Giving details at a press briefing in Accra, General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Kwetey mentioned that the elections for both the presidential and parliamentary will be held in all constituencies. The party also emphatically stated that SALL is not excluded from the elections.
So far, the names of three personalities — former President, John Dramani Mahama; a former Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and a former Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, have come up for the presidential contest.
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