It would be a mistake for President John Mahama to repeat Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as his running mate going into the 2016 general elections, an NDC pressure group has warned.
The Reform for Youth Empowerment, which has been vocal on reforms in the NDC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson Klenam Agbleze Kafui said the caution is influenced by the need for the governing NDC to prepare for its political future beyond the tenure of President Mahama.
President Mahama is expected to be endorsed by the party on November 7, and would have to name his running mate weeks afterwards.
After asking Mr. Amissah-Arthur to pick his nominations form, many predicted that President Mahama would repeat his choice of Vie-President.
But the president indicated on Takoradi-based Twin City Radio Monday that he was uncertain about who would be his running mate.
“You cannot have a running mate when you are not elected to lead the party. I can’t elect my running mate now and I can’t tell who my running mate will be,” he stated.
But the Reform for Youth Empowerment said the president would have to muster courage to nominate a potential president other than Amissah-Arthur.
“Courage not fear is needed at this material time by the leadership of the Party together with the President to do what is right to retain power not only in 2016 but also to sustain power in 2020 and beyond.”
The statement therefore cautioned the president to avoid committing the same mistake by former president Kufuor when he repeated Aliu Mahama as his running mate in the 2004 elections when it was “widely known that he would not be the party’s preferred choice of Flagbearer for the 2008 elections”.
Source – Joyfm
