The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama says words from former President Jerry John Rawlings months ago “sealed” his choice of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2020 elections.
Speaking at a special vigil to honour the memory of the late former President in Accra on Sunday, November 15, 2020, John Mahama said Rawlings affirmed his choice of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, describing her as a good choice because of her integrity.
He said that was one of the many memorable experiences he had with the late former President.
Mahama said after reading out the names of five persons who had been shortlisted as his running mate to Rawlings, he said the party founder asked him to complete his consultation with others before returning to him to discuss the choice.
“I had done quite a lot of consultation, and we have fixed the date that on Monday we will take the final decision. I asked to see him [Rawlings] on Saturday. I went to see him and I read out the names of those who had been shortlisted without saying what my own preference was. There were 5 names. He asked me if I had finished all consultations. I told him there were a few more. He said I should finish with them and come back to discuss. He said we should meet on Sunday, but he will be in Tefle. I said no problem, I will drive there.”
“I finished the consultations the next morning, getting ready to drive to Tefle, and he called me the next morning and said, ‘Chief, I decided to spare you the journey, don’t waste your time driving all the way to Tefle, look on your phone, I have sent you a text, and he went off the line,” Mahama recounted.
He said the message Rawlings sent to him read, “You didn’t tell me your choice but I knew that your choice is Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang”.
Mahama said Rawlings also in the message expressed his approval of her to be the running mate.
“He said ‘she is a woman of integrity and I think that you should go with her’. That was the text, and that sealed my decision,” Mahama recounted.
John Mahama in July 2020, announced the former University of Cape Coast Vice-Chancellor as his running mate for the 2020 elections after much anticipation.
She will be the country’s first female Vice President if the NDC wins the 2020 elections.
