Lecturer of Political Science at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, has indicated that having a woman on board the NDC leadership gives credence to Affirmative Action Advocacy. He stated that the NDC has actualized it.

He stated that the John Mahama and Jane Naana pair is the best. He maintained that with the current economic challenges and the public fatigue Ghanaians are experiencing under the incumbent administration, this pair is a piece of refreshing news.

“At this time Ghanaians are expecting that a leader should live by their words. A leader takes responsibility for national problems; currently, President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are now contemplating who takes responsibility for a mess. That is not what the ordinarily Ghanaian is looking up to”.
Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere

Dr. Asante Otchere maintained that the fact the NDC running mate was selected through a unanimous decision proves that Prof. Opoku Agyemang’s candidature resonates with the party’s grassroots and Ghanaians. He indicated that the ordinary Ghanaian is looking for opportunities for self-improvement, food security, and lessening of individual burdens and the NDC running mate is the embodiment of that.

Furthermore, he indicated that the argument made by some that Prof. Agyemang’s candidature did not pull many votes from the Central Region in 2020 and is likely not to pull any in 2024 is flawed. He reasoned that running mates are not chosen based on their region of origin.

The Political Scientist revealed that the NDC uses the North-South candidature strategy. He clarified that this strategy posits that when the Presidential candidate is from the Northern part of the country, the running mate must necessarily be from the South and vice-versa. “And when you talk of the South, it is the representation of all regions within the Southern zone; if you talk about the North, it’s the representation of all the regions in the North” he added.

Accordingly, he indicated that an aggregate calculation of the 2016 and the 2020 Presidential elections results reveals that the John Mahama and Jane Agyemang ticket is a strong one and a “magic card for the NDC”

NDC’s Succession Plan

The Deputy General Secretary – in charge of operations – of the NDC, Mr. Mustapha Foyo Gbande, stated that the pairing of John Mahama and Prof. Agyemang is a formidable team for the 2024 election. He argued that both the flagbearer and the running mate complement each other.

Remarking on the argument that the NDC should have chosen a younger running mate for future succession, the Deputy General Secretary indicated that it is impractical to focus on party succession when in opposition. He stated that the advisable thing to do in opposition is to put the party’s strong pair before the weak one.

“You would need to win the election and you can talk about a succession plan. You don’t do that in opposition, for me, it is a mis-prioritizing of the issue. I think there is a possibility that the pair may want to bring reforms when they win the elections in our democracy, our constitution, and our governance structure and probably decide to leave together”.
Mr. Mustapha Foyo Gbande

Mr. Mustapha Foyo Gbande indicated that Prof. Agyemang’s age is not a constraint in the party’s decision to make her a successor or not however, the party’s focus at the moment should be winning the election. He indicated that the NDC has the capacity of marketing anyone as a successor hence the party is not in a haste to do so now.

He clarified that the assumption that Prof. Opoku Agyemang may succeed John Mahama because she is his current running mate is flawed. He opined that Prof. Opoku Agyemang may not have the ambition of becoming the next Presidential Candidate of the NDC.

As the 2024 General Elections unfolds the NDC and its major contender, the NPP are meticulously preparing in the bid to either capture or maintain power. In the meantime, Ghanaians still await the NPP and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to announce the NPP’s running mate for the Presidential election.