The choice of a running mate is a critical decision for every political party and its presidential candidate for general elections, particularly an opposition political party.
The December 2024 general elections are three hundred and eighty-two days away from today, November 20 2023 and unlike the various successive elections held under the fourth republic, the 2024 presidential election is quite different.
It is different from the various and successive elections under the fourth republic simply because for the first time, the presidential candidates of the two leading political parties in the country are both from the Northern part of the country.
While the running mate discussion of the ruling New Patriotic Party seems to have dominated the media and political landscape after its November 4 2023 Presidential Primaries, that of the opposition National Democratic Congress is subtly becoming the talk of the town.
The former President and the National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Dramani Mahama in his two-day tour to the Bono region as part of his ‘BuildingGhana Tour’ was urged by the Queen mother of the Sunyani Traditional Council, Nana Akosua Dua Sika Asor Brayie II to consider a native of the region as his running mate for the 2024 general elections.
According to the traditional leader, such a decision by the National Democratic Congress flagbearer Mr John Dramani Mahama would seal his fortunes in the region for the December 7 2024 general elections as it would be the first time an indigene of the region will be selected for the high office of the Vice President.
“People from different areas have benefited from the role of Vice President. We appeal to the flagbearer to choose someone from this area as running mate”
Nana Akosua Dua Sika Asor Brayie II
The Queen mother of the Suyani Traditional Council has opened the floodgate for every region and its traditional leaders to ask the Former President and the National Democratic Congress flagbearer to consider his running mate from their region as he continues his tour.
Notably among the key personalities that have been rumoured to be considered for the running mate position for the National Democratic Congress include Professor Naana Opoku Agyeman, the 2020 running mate to the former President, and Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Esiam Constituency.
The two personalities are both from the Central Region where the former President has picked his running mate from in the last three elections.
Again, in the Ashanti Region Mr Kwame Awuah Darko the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Refinery Asset, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation have been tipped to partner the former President in the 2024 general elections.
In the Volta Region, which is the party’s ‘world bank’, the list includes the North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Mensah.
Other names include the Korley Klottey Member of Parliament, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings who is in the Greater Accra Region and the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah from the Eastern Region.
For the National Democratic Congress, the choice of its running mate for the 2024 general elections is even more critical considering the party’s succession plan after former President John Dramani Mahama.
Some sections of the party particularly the youth are rooting for a very young energetic vibrant candidate who would step into the ‘shoes’ of former President John Dramani Mahama after he has served his additional one term if the party wins the upcoming elections as it has been the tradition of the party.
However, others are also rooting for a candidate that if nominated would leave the scene with the former President to pave the way for the party to select its new presidential candidate for the subsequent elections.
Additionally, rumours indicate that the Volta Region, the home region of the party’s founder and first President of the Fourth Republic, the late Jerry John Rawlings are calling on the party’s leadership to not lose sight of the party’s core base in its electoral fortunes at the altar of inclusivity and regional balance and consider its running mate from the region,
However, political analyst, Bright Simmons has asserted that unless the running-mate of the NDC is a ‘strong Akan vote puller’, the party will win a majority of Parliamentary seats and narrowly lose the presidency to the Vice President and the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024 polls despite widespread loss of confidence in the ruling party’s economic management.
While several factors including regional and ethnic balance, political savvy, and gender balance among others are very critical in the selection of a running mate to win the election, it is important to note that a presidential candidate must select a running mate who not only complements his leadership style but also strengthens the overall appeal and viability of his campaign and ultimately his chances of winning an election.
For the National Democratic Congress and its flagbearer, the choice of its running mate requires thoughtful deliberation and strategic planning to increase the fortunes of the party’s electoral success in the upcoming elections.
It is a choice the party and its flagbearer must not miss as the party’s electoral fortunes in the upcoming elections partly depends on it.
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