Mahama’s family can’t decide his political future – Jinapor

John Jinapor has said whether former President John Mahama would contest the 2020 general elections or not does not lie in the hands of his “nuclear family”.

According to him, Mr Mahama after his blistering political career “becomes a father for all”, thus, has to make wide consultations when deciding on sensitive matters such as this.

John Mahama’s second term bid was truncated by the New Patriotic Party’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the December 7, 2016 general elections.

“He has had a blissful political career; he has been in parliament for twelve years; became vice president and eventually elected as president.

“Yes, there could be two or three people of his nuclear family who may have some thoughts, but respectively it doesn’t lie in their hands to decide. President Mahama belongs to a larger family now, so it is imperative he makes wide consultations regarding his political future,” the Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu said on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show.

Mr Jinapor said Mr Mahama would be the National Democratic Congress’ surest bet going into the 2020 general elections despite his humiliating defeat in the 2016 elections.

In his estimation, the former president stands the best chance of securing victory for the party in 2020, stressing “he is currently the most popular figure” in the NDC.

Mr Mahama’s younger brother and Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, revealed in a recent interview that the family had been advising him not to contest the NDC primary to select a candidate for 2020.

“John has given his all in politics to the NDC and Ghana and we think it is just fair that we allow him to rest. We were very supportive and instrumental in convincing him to partner the late Prof. J.E.A. Mills, and when the time came for him to contest for President, we supported him and advised him to go for it…Now we have advised him not to make a comeback in 2020,” Ibrahim Mahama was quoted as saying.