Former President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership not to restrict anyone seeking to be the party’s flagbearer in the next general elections.
Addressing party stakeholders on Thursday, October 14, 2021, as part of his ‘Thank you’ trip to the Western Region, Mahama said that the party must unite behind any candidate who emerges successful after their primaries.
“From next year, we (NDC) will begin our branch, constituency, regional and national elections. From there we will do our flagbearership elections.”
“The NDC is a democratic party so all those who show interest and qualify to contest must be allowed to do so. We must all support whoever emerges victorious into the 2024 elections, and I am certain that God will give us victory,” he said.
Duffuor to run for the NDC’s flagbearer position?
There have been reports that certain top NDC members are lacing their boots in preparation to contest the flagbearer position.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former Finance Minister, is featured in a video circulating on social media seeking support for the party ahead of the 2024 elections.
Though it is unknown if the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana would seek the post of flagbearer, reports suggest that it is a possibility.
However, some senior party officials think John Mahama remains the greatest chance for the NDC to win the next elections.
Joseph Yamin, the former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sport, is one of these individuals.
In a Facebook post, he said that the NDC should prevent anybody from challenging John Mahama in the party’s upcoming presidential primary.
Another individual in a comparable position is Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a former Minister for Youth and Sports and Member of Parliament for the Odododiodoo constituency.
He has also predicted a huge loss for any member of the party who challenges John Mahama for the post of flagbearer.
“John Mahama is our next candidate. We are going to endorse unanimously him as our candidate in the next congress. Anyone who will be courageous enough to come forward will not have more than 1%.”
“This does not mean we do not have other viable candidates. We do, but John Mahama is the candidate people identify more with. They have come to identify with him more.”
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