Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has vehemently denounced the blatant regional bias in the selection process of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate, the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Hon. Ablakwa criticized this action as utterly appalling and egregious, and urged a united condemnation from all, decrying the brazen bias and discrimination exhibited in the selection process.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, a person’s regional background, ethnicity, or tribe should not be a determining factor in assessing their fitness for public office, emphasizing that merit, competence, and character should be the primary considerations in selecting individuals for public service roles.
“As somebody who has really followed Kwame Nkrumah, a pan-Africanist, and was excited about how our politics began in this country, I must condemn the degeneration. This regionalism, ethnocentrism, and tribalism when it comes to positions, a person must come from a particular region…look, I pray for the day that all these things won’t matter”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The astute Legislator further urged that irrelevant factors such as ethnicity or tribe should be set aside to ensure a fair and inclusive selection process.
He warned that if this issue is not addressed promptly and decisively, it could reversely impact the significant democratic gains Ghana has achieved, undermining the country’s democratic credentials and jeopardizing the trust of its citizens in the political process.
Moreover, Hon. Ablakwa declared that selecting a running mate would not be enough to redeem the NPP’s faltering electoral fortunes.
He noted that the numerous shortcomings and entrenched problems that have characterized the Akufo-Addo administration have created an insurmountable hurdle that no running mate can possibly surmount, regardless of their credentials or abilities.
He pointed out that the government’s perceived failures, including endemic corruption, ineptitude, and a sense of betrayal, have led to a groundswell of discontent among the Ghanaian people, who feel let down by the current administration’s unfulfilled promises and unaddressed grievances.
“We take the view that no matter who is brought as running mate, the mess, the rot, the betrayal of trust, and the anger of Ghanaians, that running mate will not save the ticket. This NPP government must leave immediately without delay so that this country will be rescued from the current mess”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Hon. Ablakwa asserted that the government’s abysmal performance and failed promises are enough to warrant its rejection by the voters, who will hold them accountable for their shortcomings and unfulfilled pledges in the upcoming election.
MP Raises Concerns Over Survey On Bawumia’s Running Mate
Meanwhile, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, NPP MP for Sekondi expressed concerns about a National Investigation Bureau (NIB) survey that allegedly reveals the preferred candidate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate, the party’s flagbearer.
Hon. Mercer condemned the unauthorized release of the purported survey as completely unjustified and warned that it could unfairly influence Dr. Bawumia’s decision-making process for selecting a running mate, exerting undue pressure on him.
“I would have preferred that no such survey, obviously unwarranted by the NIB and because it creates the sense that Dr. Bawumia is being pressured to make a certain decision, but thankfully his spokesperson has spoken and has indicated that he [Dr. Bawumia] has made up his mind a long time ago as to who he is going with.”
Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer,
Mercer stressed that the final decision on Dr. Bawumia’s running mate is solely his to make and that he should be allowed to exercise his discretion without external interference or pressure.
He emphasized that by allowing Dr. Bawumia to make his own decision, without external influence, the party can be confident that he will select a running mate that aligns with the party’s goals and values, and ultimately benefits the NPP’s overall interests.
He warned that if Dr. Bawumia publicly announces his chosen running mate and it happens to align with the leaked survey’s results, it could create a perception that he was swayed by external forces, such as the NIB’s survey, rather than making a decision based on his own judgment and the party’s best interests.
