A former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has asked the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to ignore the Ashanti factor in selecting a running mate for its flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He says the Ashanti region being the NPP’s stronghold, it will be a matter of prudence to select the running mate from the region to solidify the grounds for the party as its bread basket.
Speaking with 3News’ Beatrice Claire Adu in an exclusive interview, the former Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya indicated that securing a candidate from the Ashanti region would be the “reasonable and sensible” thing to do as far as the 2024 election is concerned.
“It appears that there is a feeling generally that if we had a candidate from the Ashanti region, –after all the bread basket of the party –it would be reasonable and sensible to balance the ticket. Therefore, it is important to factor that into the equation,” he noted.
Meanwhile, he says “it doesn’t mean that you should work that way by all means but it is a factor.”
Professor Ocquaye outlined some qualities a Vice Presidential candidate should have, saying he shouldn’t be someone competing with the President.
He cited the appointment of Kow Nkensen Arkaah, by late former President Jerry Rawlings, which became problematic as a result of clash of their personalities.
“The Vice-Presidential candidate must be someone who is not looking out for the boss’s job. A person who is also not going to work like a co-president. You are a vice president and that person must therefore be of such equal nimiety that there will be no clash of personalities. When Rawlings made Ackaah his running mate, there was a clash of personalities and we all know what happened. It’s a factor to take into account,” he advised.
Some names came up for the running mate position for the New Patriotic Party, even before they selected their presidential candidate to partner the possible winner to help the NPP ‘Break the Eight’.
Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana, has, however, advised the caucuses that began campaigning for their favourite candidates to allow the flag bearer choose someone whom he is confident with, and deem competent to partner him for the polls.
He said on TV3’s News Central Wednesday, November 8, 2023, that the name suggestions and rumours making rounds should stop for Dr. Bawumia to independently decide on whom to select.
“Let Bawumia look for who can comfortably and competently support him and he who Bawumia is very comfortable working with,” he told Keminni Amanor.
Amongst the names coming out include Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu; Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Manhyia South legislator and Minister of Energy.
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