NDC 2020: I can’t be excluded – Spio

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has not ruled himself out of running in the flagbearership contest of the main opposition National Democratic Congress.

According to him, “everyone could have leadership potential and I can’t be excluded”.

In an interview with Radio XYZ, however, the former Minister of Trade and Industry said it was premature to discuss such matters since the NDC needed fixing before a leader is chosen ahead of the 2020 elections.

“Let’s work together to fix that car first or the horse that may be lame or whatever allegory people want to use. Once it is done the best driver will be decided. At this state it is early,” he said.

He added that it was important any potential contestant gave former President John Mahama the first right of refusal.

“… All of us appointed by Mahama have great respect for him. We all believe we have to grant him that opportunity,” Dr Spio-Garbrah said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, another potential aspirant, Prof Joshua Alabi, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), has said if God wants him to run for president in 2020, he will.

“Our party is reorganising now and we want to finish the reorganisation. When we finish the reorganisation, those interested will come out and I pray to God that God will also give me the energy, if God thinks I should come out,” he told Ghanaweb recently.

However, editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jr., has aid the “leading light” in the main opposition National Democratic Congress’ race for the 2020 flag bearer slot is former President John Mahama, who “will scale over” all other potential contestants.

After the NDC lost the 2016 elections, a few stalwarts in the party or their assigns, have made comments and gestures suggesting they will pitch in the 2020 race.

Apart from Prof Alabi and Mr Spio-Garbrah, the others include former CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Sylvester Mensah, former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Mr Goosie Tanoh, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Second Deputy Speaker Alban Bagbin.

Former President John Mahama is also speculated to be garnering steam for a comeback although he has not expressly said whether or not he will run again.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanna Tetteh, who was also speculated to harbour presidential ambitions, recently said she had never wanted to be president.

Speaking on Multi TV’s news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday, 6 May, Kweku Baako said: “With all the potential aspirants lining up within the context of their primaries, I see nobody as competitive or more competitive than John Mahama and for good reasons.”

According to him, per the traditions of the NDC, any aspirant who succeeded in becoming president always towered above other internal contestants each time he tried running for a second a time.

In his estimation, although some of the potential aspirants are heavyweights, none can nudge off Mr Mahama in an internal contest.

“Mr Bagbin is a formidable political player in the NDC; look at his long period in parliament and positions he’s held both in parliament and outside parliament and it makes him a formidable contestant. Spio is also somebody you can consider as credible and things. There are a few names that I think are in there for comic relief but in terms of fairness I won’t mention their names …” he told host Samson Lardy Anyenini.

As far as the Minority Leader is concerned, Mr Baako said: “He is a fantastic gentleman, young man but has a lot of sense. I like him a lot and I think he will do well, he speaks well. … He is one gentleman I really admire, he speaks well, look at his level at this stage, Minority Leader at this stage. That’s big but I don’t think he’s a ready-made presidential material, he needs to groom himself, he needs to grow, timing is critical for somebody like Haruna Iddrisu. If he makes the move now, I’m not sure he will have some success. That’s my candid opinion but otherwise he is a great potential.”