As members of the National Democratic Congress await with bated breath, report of the Kwesi Botchwey-led committee on what led to the party’s humiliating defeat in last year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, names of some prospective candidates; seen as front runners in the race to lead the party into the 2020 election are already trending on social and main stream media.
Whilst the candidature of immediate past President, John Dramani Mahama, for the NDC’s 2020 flag bearer position remains “hanging” following strong objections from his family, names of some party stalwarts believed to be persons interested in leading the biggest opposition party into the next presidential elections is already generating varied and interesting discussions.
Among the tall list of names being bandied are three NDC heavyweights who though; have not openly announced their intention to lead the now biggest opposition party, but, are gaining prominence in the media.
The three are, immediate past Vice Chancellor of University of Professional Studies, Accra, Prof. Joshua Alabi; former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority, Mr. Sylvester Mensah, and the Immediate past Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr. Julius Debrah.
This paper has however gathered that, their 2020 flag bearer bid is dependent on ex-president John Mahama’s decision on his future political life. Some of them are looking up to Mr Mahama to make definite pronouncement on the way forward for his career in politics before making their ambition public.
Surprisingly, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekow Spio Gabrah who had made two unsuccessful attempts to lead the party and has since been angling to take over from Mr Mahama, appears to have been overtaken by the three NDC kingpins who have gotten their “noses in front”.
But Dr Spio Gabrah appeared unperturbed by the early lead taken by his possible contenders as he recently told the media; a horse that is well fed, groomed and prepared for a race will win. He served notice that he will announce his presidential ambition in 2018.
Former PNDC capo and flag bearer of defunct National Reform Party, Mr Goosie Augustus Obuadum Tanoh, who was also rumored to be gunning for the post after making a surprise appearance at the recent 31st December celebrations has also not had his supposed bid resonate with supporters of the main opposition party.
Other NDC stalwarts like former Communications Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Serwah Tetteh; immediate past Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Opuni; former vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur among others who were reported to be interested in the post are all said to have chickened out.
In the case of Dr Opuni, report says he has lost the trust and confidence of the grassroots of the NDC after he was alleged to have been hostile to them and some party big shots during his stewardship at COCOBOD.
Some leading members of the NDC, including Greater Accra regional organizer, Anthony Nukpenu; Deputy Volta regional secretary, Mustapha Gbandi and others have openly accused him of contributing to the defeat of the party.
Mr Mahama’s excruciating defeat despite his much-touted unmatched achievements, especially in the area of infrastructure development, is said to have put a break on the presidential ambitions of many NDC big shots who had long confided in friends that they were going to stake claims to the party’s leadership after the immediate past president’s tenure.
However, Messrs Debrah, Sylvester Mensah and Prof Alabi seem unruffled by the ignominious defeat of Mr. Mahama and the NDC. They are reported to have been telling close friends and party bigwigs how they intend to take advantage of the NDC’s unfortunate loss to reorganize the party and bring together all the factions to position it battle ready for the 2020 elections.
Prof Alabi, a former MP for Krowor and former Greater Accra and Northern regional Minister under the Rawlings administration, is said to have his Ga lineage as one of his trump cards that feeds into the NDC’s regional rotation unwritten pact in electing flag bearer.
But Prof Alabi’s impeccable long career in academia appears to have wheeled him away from the rank and file of the NDC who are said to be questioning his “constituency” and commitment to the biggest opposition party.
The man who is believed to be the favorite of majority of grassroots but yet to win the heart of some elders and kingmakers of the party is Mr Julius Debrah. Mr Debrah, immediate past Chief of Staff to President Mahama, has a tall order convincing critics that; he will enjoy the support of his native region, Eastern region, which incidentally happens to be President Akufo Addo’s region too.
Mr Sylvester Mensah, whose 2020 posters are already out even though he has denied knowledge of them, has a perfect blend of Volta and Greater Accra regions as his trump card to make good case for his bid. His Ga background is in sync with the NDC’s regional rotational plan and Ewe background will also woo the party’s World Bank to his side.
But many think he is too young to provide the kind of leadership needed to restructure the NDC and bring together the various factions at this time. Even though he was subsequently cleared of any wrong doing, investigations into his stewardship at NHIA over alleged corruption is also said to have stained his otherwise impeccable record.
While all three front runners have been silent on their ambitions, former MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale has openly stated that he will contest the NDC’s 2020 flag bearer election if Prof Alabi decides to give up on his ambition.
The MP, who has been named by think-thank, ODEKRO, as one of the MPs who never spoke in parliament during the life of the 6th parliament, was reported in the media to have said “2020 Nii Amssah Namoale would contest for the presidency if Professor Joshua Alabi is not contesting...”.
But The aL-hAJJ’s investigations indicate that he is not one of the presidential hopefuls being considered by elders and rank and file of the NDC. Stay tuned
Source: The Al-Hajj
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WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE NDC? THE ONLY THING THEY THINK OF IS ELECTIONS AND ELECTIONS.THEY SHOULD MARK MY WORDS THEY ARE A THING OF THE PAST.NEVER AGAIN.RAWLINGS CAME AND BROUGHT NOTHING BUT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN RAWLINGS CHAINS AND HIS BROTHER IN CAPITALISTIC SOCIALIST UNDERWORLD CAME TO CEMENT THEIR EGOISTIC,SELFISH AND DIABOLIC INTEREST.I WISH GHANAIANS WILL WAKE UP AND FIND ALTERNATIVE PARTY TO THESE NOTHING BUT ARMED ROBBERS.ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Is that it. So are these the men. Haha! None of them is even fit to be vice president. The npp will rule for a minimum of three terms so we consider the ndc in 2029. We will create new regions, districts and constituencies in addition to the national identification system to prevent ndc rigging and overvoting. So my advice to ndc is that they should join nana and bawumia to govern. We will never go back to the days of corruption by voting for the ndc.
Ah what is wrong with these people? Are they democratic at all? if there is anybody in the party who wish to lead them why don't they go for congress and vote but choose to sit on media to confuse themselves. They don't even have a leader and they want to lead Ghana? Hm. All they know is propaganda. Npp have a line-up of competent Ghanaians who can lead this country and so as democratic as we are, we shall always agree to disagree and vote the best among us to lead this wonderful country.
Oh, so President Nana Addo is retiring ex pre Mahama? NDC should go for Mr Kojo Yankah if president Nana Addo is indeed retiring ex pre Mahama.
I have a problem with some Ghanaian journalist. My problem is with their spellings and framing of sentences, sometimes their sentence don't make sense or incomplete, case in point this article has a line that says THINK THANK ODEKRO instead of THINK TANK ODEKRO. Please journalist you need to you are educating the public especially children who are encouraged to read newspapers to better their vocabulary. The computer has spell check and review features so please use them. Thanks
What is all this toxic faeces of propaganda been gased around by this Aljah newspaper ; DOES THE THIS STILL THOINK GHANAIANS ARE SO STOOOOOOPID !!!!!! to worry about these NDC stillers ; the fact is there is no way Jon Mahama can come back and win an election in Ghana again ;the man is full of faeces of corruption ; his ministers were agenst of 10% contract collectors; the NDC as a party is DEAD !!!!!!!!; there is nothing JJ Rawlings can do because the man has no credibility ; its only full s and ediots that follow him; even today their founder is seeking God to come and lead the party; I thought satan will be a fine specimen because any sane person knows that the party is full of dishonest politician and thiffs !!!!!!; name me one NDC candidate who can raise his hands and say they are clean and without corruption ; at least Nana Addo can say so ; what about any member of the NDC party -NOBODY; the NDC is like a football team they have not got the players or credible people with experience ; most of them are just educated bunch of illiterates with no experience ; look at the talent and experience displayed by the NPP at the vetting -'ONAAPO'; you have people with intelligence and shredness to lead Ghana ; the question is can NDC compete -NO WAY !!!!!!
A Ga called Twum? I'm not surprised. Unlike so many others on this platform I cannot be deceived by your name. Did you say a Ga for president? How? You can't even agree who should be a Ga Mantse and you are thinking about having a Ga at the highest office of the land? The only Ga to have gotten close to was General Ankrah and he got there by the kindest courtesy of General AA Afrifa
for lack of knowlege my people perish and u lack it more so u wolill perish forever
KoliKo or kalipo Do u think Ghana belong to you. Get a job. And stop acting like a dog
These guys are a bunch of Jokerss who cannot lead Ghana.With all the damage done to Ghana, they are thinking about ruling again. Funny Party with dishonest people. You have not organised your house and you want to lead Ghana. NDC go and learn how to tell the truth to Ghanaians before thinking about contesting elections. The Ghanaian voter is very wise Now!.