Namoale 'chickens out' of NDC Presidential race; backs Joshua Alabi

The race for the flagbearer slot of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2020 elections is taking an interesting twist as reports suggests latest withdrawals and realignments.

Nii Amasah Namoale, former lawmaker for Dadekotopon Constituency it has been confirmed, will not be seeking to represent the NDC in 2020 as its Presidential candidate for reasons best known to him.

He is reported to have disclosed on Homebase Television that he will now support the candidature of Professor Joshua Alabi, former Rector of the University of Professional Studies (UPS) Accra who is a contender in the race

It is not known the reason for this alliance with Professor Alabi but the former MP who announced his presidential bid earlier than others, said he was committed to carrying the process to the latter only to chicken out even before the eleventh hour.

There is currently a hot race for the flagbearer slot of the umbrella party after the 2016 defeat with names including Former Ministers of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Roads and Highways; Inusah Fuseini; Education, Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang; Foreign Affairs, Hannah Serwah Tetteh; Trade and Industry; Dr Ekow Spio Gabrah; Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, former Minister of State and Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations, are all reported interested in leading the NDC into the 2020 election.

Others reported to be interested in leading the party after Mr Mahama’s reign include former Ministers of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur; former Brong Ahafo Minister, Eric Opoku; former Central Regional Minister; Kwaku Rickett Hagan; former Minister of State at the presidency, Rashid Pelpuo; and former majority leader and now 2nd deputy Speaker of Parliament; Alban Kingsford Sumane Bagbin.

The likes of immediate past Senior Policy Adviser and Head of Presidential Delivery Unit, Dr Valerie Sawyer; former MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale; former Chief Executives of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah; COCOBOD’s Dr Stephen Opuni; Eco Medical Village’s, Dzifa Aku Ativor; former KMA boss, Kojo Bonsu; 1st vice Chairman of NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia; MP for Klottey Korle; Dr Zanetor Rawlings; Anlo MP; Clement Kofi Humado and former vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur were also reported to be interested in the post.

Most are however of the view that if former President John Dramani Mahama is staging a comeback, they will shelve their ambitions until a later time.