Hints picked up by the New Statesman suggest that Nana Akufo-Addo may nominate his 2012 Vice Presidential Candidate much sooner than anticipated.
This paper is reliably informed that he does not intend to break with convention established by the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition in presenting a South-North ticket to the Ghanaian electorate.
Several sources in the New Patriotic Party say the nominee will come from one of four names gaining grounds within the rank and file of the party.
What is yet to be established is how any of the four names resonates with the larger national electorate. The four names are MND Jawula, Lepowura of the Kujolobito Gate of Lepo-Kpembe in the Northern Region, Ambrose Derry, Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Lawra/Nandom, Alhassan Haruna, Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV and Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2008 running mate of Nana Addo.
What is clear is that there will be no change, at least, in terms of the geographical background of the candidate.
Since 1992, with the exception of the �Great Alliance� of 1996, the New Patriotic Party has chosen all its presidential running mates from the northern part of the country.
While, strong arguments have been advanced to get the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP to break with tradition and pick a running mate from the southern half of the country, where the overwhelming majority of the party�s support base is, the New Statesman can confirm that there is very little appetite in the party leadership for any radical experiment.
In this edition, the New Statesman profiles all four potential running mate candidates and will keep readers up to speed on developments regarding the choice of a running mate for the NPP flagbearer.
Alhaji Alhassan Haruna
First up is Alhaji Alhassan Haruna who is a relatively newcomer on the �NPP running mate scene�. Mr Haruna is currently the Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV. He is a Chartered Accountant by Profession and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants � Ghana (ICAG). He has been working in the Media for the past twelve years and is a member of the National Media Commission.
Mr Haruna was born in Kumasi Zongo on the 29th May 1956 to parents Alhaji Haruna Dablu and Hajia Memuna Giba who hail from Mogonori in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper EastRegion. He is a Bissa (Busanga) by tribe and speaks Hausa and Twi very fluently. He is married with three children.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is no longer a stranger on Ghana�s political terrain after he was chosen as the running mate for the NPP flagbearer in 2008. Dr Bawumia was born on October 7, 1963in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, former Chairman of the Council of State (1992 - 2000) and Hajia Mariama Bawumia.
Dr Bawumia holds a Chartered Institute of Bankers Diploma (A.C.I.B) in the United Kingdom, Masters Degree in Economics from Oxford University, and PhD with Specialisation in Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Monetary Economics.
Dr. Bawumia worked for the International Monetary Fund from 1994 to 1996 and was Assistant Professor with the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Texas, USA. After leaving Baylor University in 2000, Bawumia started his career at the Bank of Ghana as a Senior Economist. Between 2000 and his eventual resignation, Bawmuia also held the position of Head of Monetary Policy and Financial Stability, Special Assistant to the Governor, Capital Market Committee Chairman, Monetary Policy Committee Member, and Deputy Governor. He is currently the African Development Bank�s Resident Representative to Zimbabwe. He is married with three children.
Alhaji MND Jawula
Alhaji MND Jawula, probably well known for his exploits at the Ghana Football Association, is a son of Kpembe Royal clan, a thorough-bred Zongo person and is a descendant of Jakpa, the Warrior, known in Zongo folklore. He was born in Cowlane in Accra, and is 62 years.
From Gambaga to Wale Wale, through to Yendi and Damongo, he served as District Executive in the 1970s and 1980s, which earned him promotion to serve in the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, Railways, Ports and Harbours until his retirement from the Health sector as a Chief Director in 2008.
He was the former Chairman of Ghana Football Association, Board Chairman of Real Tamale United football Club, member of the Local Organizing Committee of 1999, 2000 and 2008, CAF/FIFA Match Commissioner and member of CAF International Club Committee. He was once President of National Union of Ghana Students in 1970.
Ambrose Dery, MP
Currently serving as deputy Minority Leader of parliament, Ambrose Dery is the Member of Parliament for Lawra, a seat the NPP captured from the NDC in the 2008 elections. Hitherto, Ambrose Dery served as Upper West Regional Minister (2005 � 2007) and Minister of State at Ministry of Justice (2007-2008) under the Kufuor led NPP administration.
As Upper West Minister, he was instrumental in the extension of road networks to the region, coupled with the construction of new roads. The construction of the Jubilee Park, street lighting projects, etc.
Hon Dery was born on August 23 1956 and hails from Kokoligu-Nandom in the Upper West Region. He holds an LLB from the University of Ghana, Legon, and BSL. He is a senior partner at Dery & Co (Barristers and Solicitors). He is married with one child. In the 2008 parliamentary elections he beat incumbent, Benjamin Kufuor, by obtaining 14,472 votes, representing 47.1%, of valid votes cast. This seat had been held by the National Democratic Congress since 1992.
Source: The New Statesman
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