John Mahama Is NDC VEEP

Information gathered by Daily Guide indicates that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has settled on John Dramani Mahama, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole Bamboi, to partner Professor John Evans Atta Mills as vice presidential candidate for the 2008 elections.

Daily Guide learnt from a deep throat source that the choice was settled on after various consultations with the council of elders, the founder and the flagbearer. However, sources close to the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) said its members had not been briefed on Prof Mills’ choice.

This development has meanwhile shattered the hopes of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, former MP for Kumbungu who wanted another chance, having sacrificed his parliamentary seat for the ambition to become the vice president in 2004.

Alhaji Mumuni recently re-launched his interest in the running mate slot when he declared that he was available for the job.

The source said although John Mahama had never been a favourite of the founder, the decision was pushed down his throat this time, and he had to fall in line after it was argued that the MP was the best man to commandeer the floating voters much needed by the party.

Daily Guide gathered further that JJ Rawlings, on accepting him, was so excited about the choice, he had wanted to spill the beans to the media himself, but was prevailed upon to hold his peace because the announcement, which should be timed to have maximum effect, was best made by Prof Mills himself.

Daily Guide was informed that a number of personalities were initially considered for the number two slot, but three were seriously considered. These were Mohammed Mumuni, Minority Leader Alban Bagbin and John Mahama. Mumuni was however shot down because the elders considered his health too fragile.

It would be recalled that in 2004, just before the general elections, Mumuni drove his car into the trenches off the Haatso-Kwabenya Road, near Madina, Accra, a day after he was outdoored in Cape Coast by the party as the vice presidential candidate. He spent the rest of the campaign time on clutches as he nursed a broken leg. He has since walked with a slowed gait.

Alban Bagbin could also not get the nod. It is intimated in some circles that his confessed incestuous relationship with his own wife’s sister may be used against the party in serious elections, so despite his numerous walkouts of parliamentary sittings with the minority, was axed out.

Besides, Daily Guide was told the search team claimed he was sometimes suspected of hobnobbing with the government side.

Although NDC in the past had preferred a Muslim to partner southerners, Daily Guide was informed that John was penned down because he would be acceptable to both Muslims and non-Muslims in the party, considering his cool demeanour, ‘handsome’ appeal to the ladies and calm, sound argumentative style, which they believed would floor the NPP.

Last week, in a stage-managed style, a group of youthful supporters of the party called on the elders to select John ‘ else…’ The announcement, when it does happen in the near future, would bring a lot of disappointment to Mumuni, who has been dusting his ‘agbada’ for the occasion, and break the heart of Bagbin who had been ‘wishing’ to be the favourite.

He recently indicated to a source close to Daily Guide that it was time to pick leaders who would build the party for 2008 and beyond.

Meanwhile, Daily Guide has learnt that the health status of Prof Mills was a source of worry for the elders, so it was hoped that a more youthful and energetic John would magnetise the teeming supporters and draw additional following.

John, 48, lost the 2004 running mate slot by a whisker after receiving assurances from Prof Mills, who changed his mind in the last minute, to attract the muslim votes, thus settling on Alhaji Mumuni, former MP for Kumbungu. The Bole Bamboi MP had initially indicated his interest in the party’s flagbearership race but made a last-minute retreat, to the disappointment of his fans.

Unconfirmed reports state, John stepped down for Prof Mills on the promise of being made the running mate. Some of his supporters are however urging him not to accept it and wait for God’s time, which they believed was near.

John, a communications expert, was a deputy Minister of Communications at the inception of the second term of NDC’s administration in 1996 but was promoted as the substantive minister in a cabinet reshuffle in 1998. He has been the party’s Director of Communications since the NDC lost power in 2000. He was as well the Minority Spokesman on Communication until recently when he was made Ranking member for Foreign Affairs.