Rather than making suggestions based on ethnicity and regionalism for whom the New Patriotic Party’s flag bearer should appoint as his running mate, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has advised the party to make competence the prerequisite in whoever is chosen to partner Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.
The Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana says regionalism and ethnicity have thwarted many emerging democracies, a situation Ghana should be wary of.
His comment comes on the back of some names that are popping up as possible candidates for the running mate position of the NPP.
Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and Suame lawmaker; 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 are among the three top persons being tipped for the portfolio for the Second gentleman of the land, should the ruling government ‘Break the Eight’ in 2024.
With all three persons coming from the Ashanti region, the political scientist thinks the names out there breed some factionalism being pushed by some political actors, making it a slippery grounds for Ghana’s democracy.
“…He who can partner effectively the flag bearer. All these names you’ve mentioned are coming from one region and I’m saying that ethnicity and regionalism are divisive mechanisms that tend to worry the growth of every democracy and so in as much as the names are all from one region, the point must be made that this shouldn’t be so much of the deciding factor,” he indicated on News Central on TV3 Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
He has maintained that competence precedes regionalism and ethnicity since the NPP itself has been battling that stereotypical label over the years.
“If after looking at all the variables, the person selected comes from Ashanti region, so be it. But let’s not add ethnicity and regionalism too much because the party in itself is trying to do things that will help it shed that kind of outlook that it has. So, this shouldn’t be too much of a deciding factor. If the person is elected and later they find out that he comes from Ashanti region, so be it,” Prof. Gyampo reiterated.
Beyond the ethnicity and regionalism factor, he wants Dr. Bawumia to select someone he can comfortably work with, and also possesses the competence that can propel the NPP and the nation as a whole, should Bawumia be elected to lead Ghana in December next year.
“Let Bawumia look for who can comfortably and competently support him and he who Bawumia is very comfortable working with,” he told Keminni Amanor.
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