It appears one of the worst kept secrets in Ghanaian politics has finally been confirmed with John Mahama’s office announcing that the former president will later today, Thursday, formally declare his intention to contest for the flagbearer position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr. Mahama’s office has invited the media to witness the presentation of a letter to the party in that regard.
President John Dramani Mahama will at 10.30am today, Thursday August 23, 2018, submit to the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) his letter of intent to contest the upcoming NDC Presidential Primaries. You are kindly invited to the NDC Headquarters where the presentation of the letter will take place at 10.30am this morning.”
Mr. Mahama, when he files his letter, will join a lineup of aspirants that includes the Nadowli Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah; a former Trade and Industry Minister; Former Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi and Cape Coast South MP, and Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, who have declared their intent to contest for the slot.
The NDC has slated December 7, 2018, for the election of its flagbearer for the 2020 presidential election.
Everpresent support
Despite overseeing one of Ghana’s worst election performances, Mr. Mahama’s support from his party did not wane.
He was the figurehead of the NDC’s unit walks and he elicited massive support from the grassroots, which constantly urged him to stop playing coy over his future intentions.
But Mr. Mahama insisted that his focus at the time was on restructuring the party.
Some 94 Members of Parliament are said to have endorsed Mr. Mahama as the flagbearer for the 2020 polls under controversial circumstances.
Some of the MPs, however. claimed they had been coerced into supporting Mr. Mahama.
The Yunyoo MP, Joseph Bipoba Naabu, has complained that he was deceived into signing the list.
The leader of the 94 MPs, Edwin Nii Lantey Vandapuye, maintained that Mr. Mahama was the only candidate that could lead the NDC to victory in the next polls.
Other MPs have also been vocal in their support of Mr. Mahama over the past 18 months.
Most recently, the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Mahama would claim at least 85 percent of the votes in the race if he contests.
The 10 Regional Chairmen of the NDC in 2017 also backed the candidature of Mr. Mahama for election 2020.
The ten regional chairman, after a meeting at the time, issued a communique in which they urged the former President to consider running for the 2020 polls.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
