Amissah-Arthur Not Yet Mahama's Running Mate

Even though President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Governor of Bank of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur as his Vice-President, peacefmonline.com can confirm that there is a huge possibility the astute economist might not be his running mate.

President John Evans Atta Mills died Tuesday, July 24, 2012 and left vacancies, not only at the presidency, but also on the NDC’s presidential ticket. Mr. Dramani Mahama, the former Vice-President, was sworn into office as the new president hours later, in accordance with Article 60 (6 -10) of the 1992 Constitution; thus filling the first vacuity.

The void in the presidential slot of the NDC was also filled some two days after his (Mills’) demise when the NDCs NEC chose President Mahama as the party’s flagbearer, subject to Congress approval on Sept 1st.

But his (Mahama's) elevation to the highest office of the land left a vacuum; the running mate position of the NDC. Thus it was the expectation of most people that the nomination of Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as Veep, will end the matter.

But party officials say there is a possibility President Mahama will nominate a different person as his running mate.

National Organiser of the ruling NDC, Yaw Boateng-Gyan, argues that though Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur is a staunch party member, he has not yet been endorsed as the running mate for President Mahama.

According to him, for now, the BOG Governor will assist President Mahama as Vice-President to complete the work started by Prof Mills who passed away a little over a week ago.

Speaking in an interview with Odi Ahenkan during Peace FM’s News@ 6, Yaw Boateng Gyan said the NDC will finalize its decision to settle on President Mahama as flagbearer for the upcoming election in December on the first day of September. Thereafter, he said, President Mahama will put forward the name of his preferred choice for the running mate position, which can either be Mr Amissah-Arthur or another person altogether.

“It is not yet time for him to select his running mate for the upcoming election, that will be done at congress on 1st September; after he (Mahama) has been endorsed by popular acclamation as the flagbearer. Then he, in consultation with the party, will decide if the same person (Amissah-Arthur) should be as his running mate or whether a different person should be nominated. Right now, we are not certain that Amissah-Arthur is going to be the running mate of John Mahama. He has just been selected as the Vice President but not the running mate for the 2012 election. Even for the flagbearership, it is not a done deal procedurally, until September 1st. He has to be endorsed before he can nominate a running mate. For now, the state has done its part through President Mahama deciding who should be his Vice-President, when the time comes, the party will also take a decision with the majority of the party executives (on who should partner Mahama)…” Yaw Boateng Gyan said.