The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has expressed the readiness of the members of parliament from the minority side to support whoever the 2024 National Democratic Congress flagbearer selects as his running mate.
He however indicated that the choice of Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as the running mate in the 2020 General Elections had a positive impact on the party.
Mr. Okoe Vanderpuije therefore maintained that a similar candidate in the upcoming general elections could enhance the party’s chances.
“We went into the 2020 elections with His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang. If the flagbearer decides that he is going to keep the same team, we will all work with that.”
Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
However, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije said the final decision regarding the running mate will be made by John Dramani Mahama and the party elders.
“The choice of a running mate, I don’t think that should be an issue for us and I don’t think it is an issue. The decision is still with our leader, John Dramani Mahama with the party elders to make so I don’t think anybody should make that a challenge for us. I think that we had a team, in terms of Flagbearer and running mate for 2020 elections. We didn’t complain, we went into that election. We increased our votes and we are here today. The decision will have to be made by the flagbearer and the party elders.”
Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
He expressed his hopes that members of the party would welcome the decision when it is made by the flagbearer. He urged members to remain united so the party wins the 2024 General Elections.
“And we are praying that the decision that they will make, we as MPs and members of the party will follow it and unite our party and win the 2024 general elections.”
Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
Calls For Change Of Running Mate
There have been some calls on John Dramani Mahama to reconsider his 2020 running mate. Some political analyst believe the performance of the 2020 running mate fell below the bar.
Following that, counter calls by the camp of the 2020 running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof Naana Opoku Agyemang, to keep her job after calls for her to be changed by John Mahama, has also been made.
Several names have reportedly come up.
Reports have indicated that some names that have been proposed include Kwame Awuah Darko, former Managing Director for BOST and TOR. Also, Dr. Valerie Sawyer, a former Deputy Chief of Staff and trusted advisor of John Mahama, has been marked too. She has very strong affiliations with the party that could help the chances of the NDC in 2024.
Another person that has come up is Patrick Awuah, founder of Ashesi University who had shown interest in the position in 2020.
Others include Joseph Siaw of Juspong Group, Oppong Ofosu who is a local government expert, Cassiel Ato Forson who is the Minority Leader, etc.
The debate for Mahama to reconsider his decision on the matter of a running mate for the 2024 General Elections follows from some top party members’ disappointment in Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang’s performance in 2020.
Obed Asamoah, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, expressed his shock at her loss in her residing region.
“The lady who is a running mate to Mahama lost Central Region in the last elections, lost a whole constituency.”
Obed asamoah
According to Yaw Boateng Gyan, a former National Organizer of the NDC, the choice of her as running mate was a monumental flop.
“The decision to make Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang running mate was very poor. She was a bad choice. She added nothing to our fortunes I would say she was a monumental flop as running mate to John Mahama.”
Yaw Boateng Gyan
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