RadioXYZonline.com can reveal that unconfirmed reports from sources within the government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) indicate that the former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey is in poll position to become Ghana’s new Vice President.
The sources say Dr. Botchwey stands tall due to his administrative experience in government business and his expertise in the economy.
This follows the vacancy created as a result of the shocking demise of President John Evans Atta Mills. Subsequently, in accordance with Article 60 (6) of the 1992 Republican Constitution, Vice President John Mahama was sworn-in as president late Tuesday night by the Chief Justice.
Other stalwarts who are being considered for the office of the Vice President was Trade and Industry Minister Hannah Tetteh, Paul Victor Obeng, former head of government business and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former flagbearer of the NDC.
Barring any last minute hitch, it is likely that the renowned economist will assume office after being confirmed by the Appointment Committee of Parliament.
Pollster Ben Ephson told XYZ News in an interview that Madam Hannah Tetteh and Dr. Kwesi Botchwey are the key personalities in the running for the position.
Profile of Dr. Kwesi Botchwey
Dr Kwesi Botchwey, former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, currently campaigning for the position of flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said that as the party worked for its congress slated for December and the 2004 elections, it must focus on unity and cohesion, define and give content to its social democratic policy.
He said if elected flag-bearer, he would elaborate a clear plan to build on Ghana's potential to take advantage of the global economy and the network of globally influential individuals and organisations he had worked with to the benefit of the party and the people of Ghana.
These were contained in a statement issued by the Dr Kwesi Botchwey Campaign Directorate in Accra at the official launching of the Botchwey Campaign for NDC flag-bearer on Saturday.
The statement said Dr Botchwey was moved by his commitment to social justice and with considerable circumspection took a plunge into active politics.
As Ghana's longest serving Minister of Finance, Botchwey assumed office in 1982, when the economy was in shambles and turned it around before leaving office in 1995.
By 1995, his 13 years of stewardship had made Ghana one of the most stable and fastest growing economies in West Africa.
The Yale Law School Master's graduate, who also read the Doctorate of Juridical Sciences (SJD) at Michigan University in 1972, has a large number of publications on a wide range of economic, political and developmental issues to his credit.
Among them are "Growth and Poverty Alleviation in Africa," "Globalisation: What has it meant for Africa and what does the future portend," "Mobilising capital flows in support of accelerated development" and "Ownership of National Development programs," among others.
While serving as Finance and Economic Minister, Dr Botchwey was a development advisor at the Harvard Institute for International Development.
He left for the Harvard Centre for International Development as Director of African Programmes Research, in 1998 where he lectured in "Managing Economic Reform in Low Income Countries" at the Kennedy School at the Harvard University.
Since July 2002, he had been Senior Research Scholar, Centre for Globalisation and Sustainable Development, the Earth Institute and Columbia University (USA).
Dr Botchwey is also a member of several boards and committees focused on international and African development. He has also consulted widely and continues to consult for major international institutions, including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
He has been advisor to the World Bank's Development Report and the UNDP's Human Development Report-the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), among others.
Dr Botchwey recently served as Chairman of a Panel of Eminent Persons appointed by the UN Secretary-General to review the UN-New Agenda for Africa's Development in the 1990's (UN-WADAF).
