Bawumia a better candidate, Mahama empty - NPP chair

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Divine Otoo Agorhom, has criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for selecting John Mahama as their flagbearer, calling it a mistake.

Speaking on the Class Morning Show on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Mr. Agorhom argued that Ghanaians have already tried and rejected Mahama in past elections, and there's no reason to bring him back.

"This is somebody who has been through it all, and you expect that he should understand very well what the Ghanaian psyche is. They've had enough of you; you had your opportunity, you failed, you know, woefully.

"They kicked you out of government, you went to stay at home for four years, as it were, repackaged yourself, you came back again. They rejected you again, and you think that Ghanaians, for whatever reason, will admit you this time?"

Mr. Agorhom emphasized that the presidency is not a platform for taking remedial actions, as he believes Mr. Mahama is attempting to do.

"Honestly speaking, I'm not the one to decide for the NDC anyway, but I think they made a huge mistake bringing back John Mahama because everything about this guy is already known. He's not somebody they'll say, 'let's try him.' Are we going to try him? The presidency cannot be a platform for remedial; I mean, the man is a failure; he's failed us," Mr. Agorhom stated.

He also criticized Mr. Mahama for his approach to campaigning.

"Now look at what he's doing; he's going around asking, 'What do you think I must do, what do you want?'" Mr. Agorhom remarked, adding that Mr. Mahama had eight years in opposition to prepare but failed to do so. "You had all the time; you could have done all your preparations. Now everything shows that he's not prepared."

In contrast, Mr. Agorhom praised the NPP's flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as a more prepared and transparent candidate.

"He's made every Ghanaian aware of what he's coming to do and espoused his plans for the country. This is clearly a case of somebody, you know, you wrote the exams, you failed, you wrote the remedials, you failed, and you are saying give me another chance."

He concluded by highlighting the difference between Mr. Mahama and Dr. Bawumia.

"Ghanaians will want to give him [Dr. Bawumia] the opportunity to prove himself. John Mahama, he has been president before, so his records are there for us to evaluate. Everything about Mahama is known to Ghanaians; the man is empty."