Mahama-Zanetor 2020 ticket: I've heard of no such suggestion – Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has said – in reference to suggestions that his daughter, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, partner former President John Mahama as running mate on the ticket of the main opposition National Democratic Congress for the 2020 presidential election – that: “I’ve heard of no such suggestion”.

The NDC founder made the comment when he was asked by journalists, when he went to the Klottey Korle constituency on Saturday, 24 August 2019, to cast his vote in the party’s parliamentary primaries, about what he made of discussions of a possible John Mahama-Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 2020 ticket.

In November 2018, a Senior Political Science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwesi Amakye, tipped the Klottey Korle MP as a very good candidate to partner Mr Mahama, who is seeking a comeback in the 2020 race.

Dr Amakye told Class91.3FM’s 12Live news programme on Monday, 19 November 2018 that Dr Agyeman-Rawlings “has what it takes to partner former president Mahama in 2020”.

In his opinion, such a move will be “a strategic card to play”.

Dr Amakye added that Dr Agyeman-Rawlings “will make a good choice”.

He added that such a strategy will be “a tough card and a very powerful one”.

Dr Amakye, therefore, said discussions on that possibility should focus on “her competence and capacity” and related matters.

“We need to acknowledge that the lady has what it takes,” he added, as he pointed out that a running mate role will bring added benefits to the NDC party.

Meanwhile, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings had earlier said she was "willing" to support the NDC to win the 2020 general elections by serving in "whatever capacity".

Asked directly by Moro Awudu, the then-host of Class91.3FM's Executive Breakfast Show at the party's 9th National Delegates Congress grounds if she was ready to partner Mr Mahama as his running mate for the 2020 polls, should the former president win the flag bearer slot of the party at the time, the medical doctor-turned-politician said: "You're asking a tricky question, which I mustn't answer because I am not the one to decide who his running mate should be should he emerge as the flag bearer".

"So, I think to answer that question would be a bit premature", she said.