Lawyer Martin Kpebu says that, based on his own analysis, the flagbearer contest in the NDC is between the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the National Chair of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
For him, because Education Minister Haruna and Iddrisu and President John Mahama are from the North, it makes Haruna’s chances slim.
“The race is between Ato Forson and Asiedu Nketiah,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, May 23.
Speaking on the same topic, Kwesi Pratt said that 17 months after Ghanaians voted for the Mahama administration, the people of Ghana expect the government to achieve its reset agenda.
The current jostling for who becomes the flagbearer of the NDC is premature and hurting governance, he said.
He said “the performance of the NDC in future elections is dependent on what the Party does with the power they have now.
“The uncontrolled rivalry is creating factions in the Party.”
Kwasi Pratt further described the ambitions as reckless, explaining that Ghanaians expect them to achieve their reset agenda 17 months after being voted for.”
For his part former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emmanuel Bombande, said that the NDC will win the 2028 general elections not only because of the person who will be elected flagbearer, but by the process of electing the candidate.
Mr Bombande said that a fair process will ensure that the NDC remains united and goes into the 2028 elections.
He also cited the performance of the Mahama administration as a factor that will determine the chances of the NDC in the next elections.
Mr Bombae was making the point that it is possible that none of the names that have been polled or tracked will emerge victorious.
“It is possible that some who have never been polled will be elected.
“It is possible that some of the people polled or tracked will not win,” he also said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 23.
The Renowned Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding expert, Emmanuel Bombande added, “The NDC has a very consultative process which helps them to determine who leads the Party at any time.”
He further stated that “The NDC is going to win the 2028 elections not just based on who is elected flagbearer, but by the process of electing.
“When you have a process not well thought through, you could be elected flagbearer but will run into challenges.” The process must be so fair that nobody will complain.”
His comments come at a time when the Executive Director of the Global InforAnalytics, Mussah Dankwah, pointed out that some ministers and appointees of the Mahama administration are out of touch with the grassroots of the National Democratic Congress.
Apart from being out of touch with the grassroots, Dankwah also said that some appointees are undermining themselves ahead of the flagbearer race.
“There are ministers who are out of touch with the grassroots; they are jets focusing on what they are doing,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 23.
Mussa further says that a good servant of the government is most likely to be elected flagbearer. This is aside from having a good message.
“The performance of ministers will determine the outcome of the NDC flagbearer race,” Mussa Dankwah said.
“If you, serve well, you will be deemed to be a good servant. There are people in government who are fighting against the same government; not everybody in the government is a team player, so the delegates will look at the people in general,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 23.
The NDC is, however, yet to open nominations for the flagbearer contest ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He says the delegates he has been speaking to have expressed the view that the person to be elected as flagbearer must be seen to be supporting the Mahama administration to deliver.
Anything short of that would not be accepted by the delegates, he said.
“You have to be seen to be supporting the government to be elected NDC Flagbearer, Musa Dankwah said.
“For John Mahama and his party, they have to perform in office. If they fail to perform in office, they will not have a chance in the 2028 elections, he said.
Mussah Dankwah further dismissed criticisms that his outfit is not conducting any poll but a popular contest.
He made the point that they always get it right with their polls.
“A lot of things have been said about our polls, but we always get it right. We know what we are looking for, we know it will not suit everybody,” he said.
