By William
Yaw Owusu
Saturday
August 25, 2018
The race for the flagbearership position of the
opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 presidential election
is gathering momentum.
So far 11 NDC gurus, including former President John
Dramani Mahama, have declared their intention to lead the party, and DAILY
GUIDE learnt the number could increase before the close of nomination
ahead of the showdown on December 7, 2018, two clear years before the 2020
general elections.
NDC
Gurus
Apart from former President Mahama, who wants a
second shot at the presidency, former Rector of the University of Professional
Studies (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry,
Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Second Deputy Speaker and NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo,
Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, are all in the race.
Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National
Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester A. Mensah, former Central Regional
Minister and NDC MP for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, are also
contesting.
It’s even believed that Augustus Goosie O. Tanoh,
who abandoned the NDC ahead of the crucial 2000 general election, which the NDC
lost to then opposition NPP, wants to come back to lead the party. Many ardent
NDC members have never forgiven him for forming his own NRP which made the NDC
lose that election which brought President J.A. Kufuor and Alhaji Aliu Mahama
to power.
A lawyer and NDC Communications Team member called Elipklim
Agbemava, a banker and oil and gas consultant, Nurudeen Iddrisu and one David
Dotse Kwame Kuwadah have all declared intention to challenge the former president.
Even maverick Stephen Atubiga aka Latrician or
Acolatse, who Justice Atuguba humorously described as ‘somebody who can burn
down a market’ during the landmark Presidential Election petition after being
cited for contempt, is also in the race to lead the NDC.
Atubiga had derisively said that Mahama’s comeback
is not ‘sexual intercourse’ for him to call for second round.
Atubiga claimed cynically that Mr. Mahama would be a
good running mate for him.
Former Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe
Amissah-Arthur, who was buried last month, was preparing to contest his boss
Mr. Mahama.
He was believed to have the full support of former
National Security Advisor, Baba Kamara, who reportedly fell out with Mr.
Mahama.
Former President Mahama says he is seeking a second
shot at the presidency because he believes he owes a duty to God and the
country to do so.
Open
Secret
Mr. Mahama’s declaration ended months of speculation
about his intention to make a comeback even though it was an open secret that he
was lacing his boots to run for president again.
The former president had been using the so-called
NDC Unity Walk agenda to test the ground, and therefore submitting a letter
officially to declare his intention did not come as a surprise to many
political observers.
It’s believed in NDC circles that ex-President
Mahama is the only candidate with a deep pocket to finance the party’s campaign
for 2020, hence the massive support.
94
MPs
The former president enjoys the support of a large
number of NDC members and it would be a shocker if he is not able to win the
position for 2020.
Some political observers have even said it’s going
to be a mere formality for him but the camp of Prof Alabi has disputed that
analysis.
Recently, 94 out of 106 or so NDC MPs declared their
support for the former president sparking heated debate in the party.
The list included two MPs from Ashanti, nine from
Brong Ahafo, three from Central, six from Eastern, 12 from Greater Accra and 16
from the Northern Region.
The rest included 12 from Upper East, three from
Upper West, 21 from Volta and 11 from Western Region.
Conspicuously missing on the list of endorsement were
NDC MPs like Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Ketu North and deputy
Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and MP for Keta, Richard Quashigah, who
belongs to the Prof Alabi camp.
Also, MP for Yunyoo in the Northern Region, Joseph
Bipoba Naabu, who clearly does not like former President Mahama, said the MPs
were ‘blackmailed’ into making an endorsement.
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