NDC race: My chances still bright despite my gaffe – Bagbin

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, says his chances of winning the coveted Flagbearer slot of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) remain very bright despite his recent comments that have caused him public disaffection especially among persons with disability (PWDs).

Some Ghanaians took Alban Bagbin to the cleaners for allegedly making some unsavoury comments that the 'defects' of some appointees of former President Mahama might have hindered the progress of the NDC's 2016 campaigns and subsequent loss to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Among others, he had said that the former President’s appointment of Dr. Seidu Danaa, a visually challenged man, as the Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs was a decision that courted hatred for the NDC from Ghanaian chiefs since, in Ghanaian tradition, chiefs are not allowed to deal with visually impaired persons.

Hon. Bagbin also observed that Dr. Danaa was a respectable and learned person who could have fitted into any other Ministry, apart from the Chieftaincy Ministry, since his appointment went against Ghanaian culture.

He added that even though President Mahama meant well, the appointment of Dr. Danaa had ended up courting anger among the chiefs for the NDC government, which contributed greatly to the unprecedented defeat of the NDC in 2016.

The longest-serving Legislator under the Fourth Republic also had issues with Dr Omane Boamah, a stammerer, being appointed the Minister of Communications.

Some political analysts have concluded that Mr Bagbin nailed his own coffin by ending his political career and Presidential ambition with what they describe as divisive and demeaning statements which should never have been uttered by such a respected politician.



But addressing journalists over the issue at Kajaanor office in Accra, Tuesday, August 28, 2018, Hon. Bagbin who apologized for his comments maintained that he remains on course to winning the Flagbearer position despite the backlash.

“We need to change the way we do things and I shared my vision and provided simple solutions to otherwise serious challenges in this country. I marvelled a lot of them including the chiefs in the Volta Region. So I believe all these are being done just to try and muddy the waters and undo all the good things I did in the region, that’s all. This is politics in Ghana for you.”