A Political Science lecturer from the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has suggested that the grounds do not look fertile for those arguing for a compromise candidate for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He has indicated that the best means to get a candidate who will appeal to the NPP delegates is through elections.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3, Monday, July 10, 2023, the lecturer said supporters of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are calling for popular acclamation due to signals they might have picked from delegates which is not in their favour.
According to Dr. Asah-Asante, supporters of winnable candidates prefer using elections to determine their fate rather than acclamation.
The calls therefore, for the party to popularly acclaim Dr. Bawumia to lead the NPP for the 2024 polls, he noted, could be as a result of unfavourable signals from delegates.
“But what I pick on the ground is that, some people are suggesting they want a common or compromise candidate. And if you look at those who are talking about this, obviously you’ll see that they are from Dr. Bawumia’s camp. And my thinking is that, if you believe that that compromise candidate, you need to ask people to step down in order to all pledge their support to a particular candidate, then I believe that the best way to produce that compromise candidate is through election. Because, election more often than not produce a compromise candidate. A candidate that’s suitable to all. That’s the candidate who emerges after elections. So if you don’t want elections and you’ll want –if you like, a popular acclamation, –then I’m tempted to believe that you’ve picked certain signals which will not go for him.
“So, for those who are talking like that, if you look at it carefully, maybe their candidate is losing. That’s why they’re proposing, because if you’ve gone to the field and picked data and the data suggests that your candidate will win, you won’t come and argue for a compromise candidate,” he stated.
Dr. Asah-Asante explained further that “even if everybody insists, you’ll deviate and say that let’s go for elections. Once you want to thread on that line, then I want to believe that there is something burning you’ve seen, we have not, and that’s that your candidate is losing. So, I have this feeling and that’s borne out of the analysis I have on the situation on the ground.”
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says it is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s time to lead the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 elections.
He says there are times and seasons for politicians, adding that Dr. Bawumia is competent and loyal, making him the right person to lead the party.
The Majority Leader added that 122 MPs currently support the Vice President’s candidacy.
READ ALSO: From Eric’s Diary: Why Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must bide his time
