FACT-CHECK: GNA report on Prof Naana Jane as NDC running mate false

Claim - NDC NEC endorses Prof Naana Jane as running mate

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) on March 4, 2024, carried a story on the choice of running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

The story, authored by Christopher Arko had a lede that read as follows: "The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unanimously endorsed the nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Running Mate to John Dramani Mahama."

In the second paragraph, the writer claimed that the flagbearer had since reacted to the development via a post on Twitter (now X).

Mr Mahama, in a tweet shortly after the endorsement, said, “Naana Jane is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model,” the story added.

Checks

GhanaWeb Fact-check desk could not find any recent tweet on Mahama's X handle relative to his choice of running mate for the 2024 race.

His only tweet in March 2024 at the time of filing this report was related to an engagement he had in Nigeria.

Curiously, however, a deep search of the exact quotes attributed to Mahama in the GNA report showed that he had indeed tweeted about Prof Naana Jane's qualities as a running mate but that was as far back as June 2020.

His full tweet in 2020 read: "@OfficialNDCGh, this afternoon, unanimously, endorsed my nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my Running Mate for the December 2020 election. She is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant & a role model."

Also checks with some insiders in the party indicated that the party will go by its March 7 timeline for the announcement of a running mate as communicated late last month in a statement issued by General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

GhanaWeb sources have, however, confirmed that the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast will be announced as the running mate for the upcoming polls.

Verdict - GNA's story is false

See Mahama's 2020 tweet below:

The @OfficialNDCGh, this afternoon, unanimously, endorsed my nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my Running Mate for the December 2020 election. She is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant & a role model. pic.twitter.com/02qRJQChJd

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) July 6, 2020

By Christopher Arko

Accra, March 4 GNA – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unanimously endorsed the nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Running Mate to John Dramani Mahama.

Mr Mahama, in a tweet shortly after the endorsement, said, “Naana Jane is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model.”

This is the second time the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and Minister of Education will be partnering former President Mahama on the ticket of the NDC for a major election in 2024.

Before her selection, several names were floated as potential running mates which included Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff; Dr Kwabena Duffour, former Finance Minister and Governor of Bank of Ghana; Mr Kwame Awuah Darko, former Chief Executive of Tema Oil Refinery and BOST, Kojo Bonsu, former Mayor of Kumasi; Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, the NDC Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey Constituency.

The former President submitted name of his preferred running-mate to the National Executive Committee and the Council of Elders of the party for scrutiny.

The party through its General Secretary, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, in an earlier statement, indicated that the NEC and the Council of Elders of the party were preparing to deliberate on Mr Mahama’s choice for running mate.

In addition, the former President Mahama is expected to make an official announcement of his running mate to the public on March 7, 2024.

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