The former Member of Parliament for Obuasi-East, Edward Ennin, has criticised Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, for his failure to announce a running mate less than six months to the December 7 election.
The politician suggests that this delay undermines Dr Bawumia’s readiness and suitability for the presidency.
Ennin expressed his bewilderment at Dr. Bawumia’s indecision, despite having the constitutional right to select a running mate who he believes can effectively assist in governing Ghana.
The businessman disclosed that there were rumours indicating that internal disagreements within the “Jubilee House” are influencing Dr Bawumia’s decision, causing the prolonged delay.
“What amazes me is that former President Kuffour clearly and openly chose his running mate, and so did Akufo-Addo. Now it is Dr. Bawumia’s time to decide who he wants, and the information that keeps reaching us is that people in the Jubilee House do not like the candidate Dr. Bawumia prefers,” Ennin remarked.
“If you are a flagbearer of a major party like the NPP and you’re being frightened to choose the running mate you like, then how can he be president? He doesn’t have the boldness to be president. Is he not a man? The constitution has given him the right to choose, is he not man enough to?”
“How can he be President if a small decision like this he can’t make because people are influencing him? Then he can’t do the job. How can he be President?” he said on Onua FM on June 21.
As the search for a suitable running mate continues, Ennin pointed out that the leading candidates, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, both hail from the Ashanti Region, a key determinant of the position within the NPP.
This complicates the decision, he says as choosing either candidate would create dissatisfaction within the party due to their respective support bases, “If he settles to choose NAPO, the supporters of Adutwum will be unsatisfied with that decision, and vice-versa. There is no way to bring the two together,” Ennin explained.
When asked whether or not the party could break the 8 through Dr Bawumia, Ennin clarified his current stance on the party’s future, by saying that he is “not in there to know whether they break the 8 or not. I seriously don’t care for now. I am minding my business.”
By Lois Dogbe
