Give Mahama time to change Amissah-Arthur – NDC group

The membership of the Ga- Adangme Youth of the NDC read with dismay the attempt by some within the NDC executives to bulldoze His Excellency President Mahama to name his running-mate by the end of the year.

While we feel this is a strategy for the more decisive President to be compelled into making hasty decisions which will adversely affect the fortunes of the NDC going forward, it is important to note that, it is also an attempt to undermine the powers of the President. Under the constitution of the NDC, the President has the sole prerogative to nominate his running- mate albeit involving consultation with the Council of Elders of the party which ideally should also include the voice of the grassroot of the party which form the masses.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been several views expressed by party supporters that the President should secure the future of the NDC by picking a capable running-mate who is capable of leading the NDC into 2020 elections. With many partisans sharing the view that it may be the turn of a Ga indigene to lead the party in 2020, it will only be important that one of our own is picked to partner the President for the 2016 elections.

We do support the idea that the party needs to draw its manifesto, but naming a running mate by the end of the year will certainly have no bearing on the development of the party’s manifesto. At least the President should be giving enough time to do a broader consultation with the key stakeholders for the greater interest of the NDC to be considered in the selection of a fitting running-mate.

It is only harsh on the President to be coerced and intimidated into naming a running mate when actually he and others have to appraise the performance of the current Vice-President and to look into the future prospects of the Party and mother Ghana. We should not lose sight of the fact that the NDC must strategically get a Vice- President who could possibly lead the party into 2020. A situation where over 90% of Ghanaians including core NDC members feel the current Vice- President is not cut-out for such political leadership role as a future President.

It is even common knowledge within the NDC that the current Vice- President, Mr. Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur is not an appealing candidate and doesn’t come near leading the party in the foreseeable future. This assertion is also reportedly confirmed by the Vice-President himself who on several occasions has confided in friends that he is frustrated in his job and may need to give a bow out of the mainstream politics.

However, it is noted with regret that some party executives, due to their selfish interests are compelling the media-shy Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur to continue a job which he seems too far alien to.

It is a wonder that those who seek to serve their own interest could not advise Mr. Amissah Arthur to defend President Mahama against attacks from the running-mate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. As an economist on same level or even higher to Bawumia, is Amissah Arthur not in better position to respond to the serial attacks on the Presidency? Why has he remained voiceless for three years and rather made Dr. Bawumia a perceived demigod of economics in Ghana?

We find it very unspeakable the Vice-President has so far found no response to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leaving the President with no choice than to respond himself. This we feel is a strong indictment on the capability of the Vice-President to inspire any confidence in our electioneering campaigns, let alone lead the party in 2020.In fact, in the recently concluded NDC primaries, the Vice played no role to get the President elected by NDC members.

If, some NDC party executives are opinionating the happenings in the NPP as a blessing in disguise for the NDC as we enter 2016, and therefore the party could take a risk with the current Vice-President, then the NDC will surely pay for complacency as happened in 2000 elections. The NPP may come even stronger and wounded for power when the storm is calmed and peace is returned to the party. The NDC must not underestimate that the NPP may come into elections 2016 as wounded lions when they get back united.

History has it that the NDC has never maintained a running mate which has brought us to where we are now. Rawlings changed Nkensen Ackaah for John Evans Attah- Mills, who later changed Martin Amidu for Mohammed Mumuni before finally settling on John Mahama. Why then someone could not still be sacrificed for results if we are to win 2016 elections and future elections? Have we forgotten that Ntim Gyakari offered himself to be sacrificed for the Ashanti’s to win a war? Had Joachim Amartey Quaye not been sacrificed over the killings of the Judges to save more senior members during the PNDC era? Why can’t the selfish interests of some greedy power brokers in the NDC who are even in the minority give way to the greater interest of the NDC and Ghana? We have previously recommended Alfred Oko Vanderpuije as our preferred candidate for consideration by his Excellency John Mahama.

The Ga- Adangme state still has other sons as Sylvester Mensah and others who could be considered also. However, we are obliged to wholeheartedly support any choice of the President based on effectiveness and competence as long as that choice is not Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur whom the grassroot do not have any confidence in. Let the NDC be mindful that any attempt to maintain the current Vice- President as running-mate will not only be demonstrated against but also will lead to voter apathy leading to election 2016.

We are keenly watching.

Ga-Adangme NDC Youth