John Mahama
All the party gurus contesting H E former President Mahama know deep amongst themselves that they have no iota of chance emerging victorious in the impending presidential primaries for the Akatamanso family.
They initially thought of jostling to catch the eye of JDM for the running mate slot which will ultimately put the fellow in a comfortable lead for the December 7, 2024 election after JDM has constitutionally exhausted his tenure having served from January 7, 2021 to January 7, 2025. ( Isha Allah)
At the genesis, some of the contestants including Hon Spio Garbrah emphasized that if JDM declares his intention to contest, they will back down but JDM has officially declared yet Spio and Co are still in the race.
Spio is banking his hope on the fact that, a tsunami has taken place at the constituency, regional and same pattern is anticipated at the national and even the presidential primaries have forgotten that those new faces emerging are more JM than those exiting the scene.
None of the contestants should deceive their thoughts that, the fact that you take an early lead in reporting an incident at the police station is not a guarantee that you have a better case since there are equally much better candidates who could have pop up but for the presence of JDM, the Messiah of our time, they are temporarily mute.
Again those contesting JDM and eyeing 2024 got their permutations and computations wrong since HISTORY is there as a guide to all and sundry.
Former president Jerry John Rawlings handpicked Professor Mills at the famous Swedru declaration and that singular act truncated the presidential ambitions of so many party gurus including the Goosie Tanoh’s who thought they were better placed to lead the party than the late Professor.
Late Professor Mills in turned selected Hon Martin Amidu ( now Special Prosecutor ) and Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni (former MP for Kumbungu ) on two previous attempts but none were able to pull the needed votes for Prof Mills until he eventually settled on JDM ( the Joshua of our time ) who had the magical touch which culminated on our electoral victory in December 2008. Thereafter, per the pattern and constitutionally JDM succeeded the late Professor Mills.
So per the permutations and computations, the Joshua Alabi’s, Spio Garbrah’s, Alban Bagbin’s, Goosie Tanoh’s, Sylvester Mensah’s, Kojo Bonsu’s etc have all gotten their thoughts backfiring. JDM will be settling on an acceptable running mate who will automatically have a brighter chance of lead the party in 2024 after he has exited the scene.
The governing party can’t be exonerated in the huge numbers popping up since some of the candidates are being supported to swell up the numbers for equalization purposes to re-echo General Mosquito’s famous quote ” 19 thieves are assembling to select their king “.
The contestants are unfortunately relying on party faithfuls ( who themselves are more JM than JM himself) as their reps in the regions, constituencies and branches and for that matter shouldn’t be surprised recording zeros at majority of the constituencies.
The media is also hyping the event with sensational headlines ” NDC World Bank declare support for Goosie Tanoh” etc and also according various platforms to the anti-JM like Ambassador Daniel Osei to be spewing lies all over. Personally, I will be extremely shocked if all votes garnered by the other contestants contesting JDM exceed the range of 0% to 7 % where each of them will be associated with a respective smoothness level just as what transpired between late Professor Mills and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings in Sunyani.
On the campaign trail, they need to carefully guard against utterances that have the tendencies of jeopardizing their ambitions since JDM himself is embracing them into the contest and welcoming a decent campaign to the extent of urging delegates to accord the other contestants equal opportunities, tolerance and courtesies since a united umbrella family is key to an electoral victory in December 2020. The “useless” member of the umbrella family is key to the impending success story in December 2020. Shalom.
By Former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kintampo, Hon. Justice Michael Baffoe
