Choice of Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang as running mate is hope-inspiring to the oppressed in Ghana - Dr. Kwabena Duffuor

The choice of Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as running mate to former President John Mahama in the 7 December 2020 polls is hope-inspiring to the oppressed in Ghana, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Kwabena Duffuor has said.

“At a time our country needs leadership with conscience, truth and empathy, God has raised you, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, to go occupy the office of the Vice-President, in the next NDC government, come January 2021”, the former Minister of Finance said in a short statement on Tuesday, 7 July 2020 – a day after the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) announced his choice of Ghana’s first female Vice-Chancellor as his partner for the general polls.

“Your preferment is the first of its kind and brings emancipation to our long-suffering women, gives inspiration to our daughters and brings hope to victims of oppression in this country. May my God be your guide, as I continue to pray for you,” Dr Duffuor wrote.

Meanwhile, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said Mr Mahama should have settled on either former Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh or former Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong if he wanted a female running mate.

“If he [John Mahama] wanted a woman, when they were mentioning some women who have demonstrable competence who have risen through this House to establish themselves firmly in the feminist [sphere], one such person could have been Hanna Tetteh”, he told the Parliamentary press corps on Tuesday, 7 July 2020.

“She has been an MP before”, he said, adding: “She has been a Minister of Foreign Affairs. So, she has learned the rules. So, she could have complemented President Mahama”.

“The former Attorney General is also there – Marietta Brew. She is also a solid lady. But you ask yourself: ‘What value is this woman [Prof Opoku-Agyemang] bringing to that ticket?’ And that’s where I find it extremely difficult”, the Suame MP wondered.

“I mean, the woman is a calm woman, a woman of poise and speaks good English, but is it good enough to satisfy the ticket to ensure quality improvement in the governance?

“And let’s not forget, perish him that, If John Mahama becomes the president and the next day he is no longer, is this woman capable of being described as the president?”, he asked.

“This has nothing to do with her personally but we are talking about quality in governance.”

As far as the males are concerned, the Majority leader said Mr Mahama should have gone for either an economist or a lawyer.

“For a ticket, John Mahama is a communicator, so, you want a person who is a lawmaker or a lawyer, who will add value to the governance architecture”, he argued.

“He himself has been a Member of Parliament before, so, to be fair, one could say that he has acquired that experience from Parliament. But in terms of the economy, how are you going to impact the economy? Which is why, maybe, you need a mate who is an economist to be with you.

He said since Mr Mahama falls short in economics, he should have gone for an economist to fill that void “because that ticket is to play the role of a generalist to exhibit versatility in a manner that when it comes to legal matters, you have some control and economic matters you have some control on it.

“So, when I first heard, I thought they were going to decide on Dr Duffuor or Nii Moi Thompson because they are economists and finance experts with considerable standing to complement the ticket. Either of them could have done it.”