Political watchers have observed that the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is struggling to find a running mate to match Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman.
With barely seven months until the December 7 elections, the governing party has yet to unveil its running mate to partner Dr Bawumia.
According to political analysts, the undue delay could mean the NPP is not finding a match for the presidential candidate of former President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer.
Speaking on the matter, a senior lecturer and political analyst at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, has hinted that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia may also be struggling to accept nominees of power brokers in the party for the running mate position.
According to him, the indecision on the part of the NPP Flagbearer regarding the selection of a running mate is worrying.
He indicated it could also mean the party leadership rejects Dr Bawumia’s proposed candidate.
Speaking on 3FM’s Hot Edition on Thursday, May 9, Dr Asante Otchere maintained that such delay fuels the perception that Dr Bawumia is not his own man.
“I believe that he has unduly delayed that particular decision and it is making other people weigh in with their demands and requests and that will bring more pressure and once you take the decision, you virtually alienate other regions.”
“It also appears that the power brokers and the party owners are not sure who to choose. It is either the person Dr Bawumia is asking for is not going to be granted or Dr Bawumia is struggling to accept the choice that the power brokers are making for him, hence the delay and stalemate.”
“There is no other scientific basis to determine the lateness,” he emphasised.
According to Dr Asante Otchere, Dr Bawumia may not have complete autonomy to select his running mate outside the party stronghold, Ashanti Region.
Key figures within the governing party have hinted at a ‘Northern-Ashanti’ ticket for the 2024 elections. For the first time, the NPP has elected a candidate from Northern Ghana to lead the party.
Dr Bawumia, he said, cannot claim the kind of ownership of the party like Kufuor or President Akufo-Addo hence is being pressured to pick the running mate from the Ashanti Region.
