I’m happy to run with Amissah-Arthur – Mahama

President John Mahama has stated that he is happy to retain Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as his running mate for the 2016 elections.

Presenting his choice of running mate to national executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress Monday, Mahama said he has no problem running again with his "hardworking" veep.

"I must go into the 2016 elections with a Running Mate. I have had no difficulties settling on my hardworking Vice President as my Running Mate for the Second Term.

“I am happy to nominate His Excellency Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur as my Running Mate for the 2016 Presidential elections," he stated.

Prior to his endorsement, groups within the NDC were lobbying the seat of government – the Flagstaff House – for Mahama to change soft-spoken Amissah-Arthur, who was described as “incompetent.”

The Volta Youth for Development was rooting for the Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, while another group pushed for foreign affairs minister Hanna Tetteh.

However, Mahama who is pushing for a second term has shown faith with his right hand man and will be contesting the New Patriotic Party’s duo Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the second time since the 2012 general elections.