The Chairman of the vetting committee for the flagbearer contest of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edward Doe Adjaho, has rubbished claims that the party forced businessman, Ernest Kobeah, to opt out of the race.

He maintained that Mr. Kobeah was not kicked out of the race as he pulled out voluntarily.

Ernest Kwaku Kobeah submitted his letter to step down to the NDC’s elections committee on Wednesday, March 29.

The former Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, was enthused by the performance of all three flagbearer hopefuls, during the vetting.

“If you look at the Constitution and guidelines, for example, you must satisfy the qualification eligibility prescribed in the 1992 Constitution. You have to satisfy the party’s constitution, and you must also satisfy the guideline issued by the National Executive Committee (NEC). All of them did well before us, they all satisfied the conditions.”
Edward Doe Adjaho

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama, a former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour and a former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu have been cleared to contest in the NDC’s May 13 primaries.

After the balloting for the presidential primaries, Mr. Mahama picked the first slot on the ballot, Kojo Bonsu and Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, picked the second and third slots respectively.

Duffuor Advised To Pull Out

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who is also a member of the Campaign team for John Mahama, Peter Boamah Otokunor, is expecting the two other contenders in the flagbearer race to pull out and throw their weight behind Mahama.

His comments follow a decision by businessman Ernest Kwaku Kobeah, to withdraw from the race after facing the NDC’s vetting committee.

Otokunor while speaking to the media after balloting for John Mahama, indicated that the decision for Ernest Kobeah to have joined the race, was pointless.

“Well, it’s a welcoming decision and I anticipated that we will get that from the other contenders. But it’s election and everyone wants his name to be on the ballot, and we will have to go through it. If you ask me, it’s a needless venture for [the other contenders to be in the race with] the most marketed, the one with legacy. At this particular moment in our country, we need somebody who is experienced.”
Peter Boamah Otokunor

Ernest Kwaku Kobeah, who is a modern sewage system specialist and doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of City Experts Limited Group in the UK, has expressed gratitude to the National Executives of the party, after submitting his letter.

Mahama Reacts To Position On Ballot Paper

Ahead of the National Democratic Congress‘ (NDC) primaries, former President John Mahama has asked members to vote massively for him. This comes after he got the first slot on the ballot sheet, among three aspirants for the election scheduled for May 13.

Addressing NDC supporters at Gomoa West in the Central Region, he said God has spoken with his position on the ballot paper.

“Balloting has been done for the May 13 presidential primaries and the person who picked on my behalf, picked number one. So, I’m number one on the ballot and God is telling us something.”
John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama used the opportunity to also appreciate a contender, Ernest Kwaku Kobeah, who has withdrawn from the race to throw his support behind him(J.D. Mahama).