Mahama must name running mate now – Dr. Amoako Baah

Dr. Amoako Baah, a Political Scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST) has said President Mahama by actions has already shown that he’s bidding another term of office with his Vice President, hence must not waste time to make it public.

“If you direct your Vice President to pick up nomination forms on your behalf, then there is every indication to it that you are ready to retain him as your running mate for the elections,” Dr. Amoako Baah told Kasapa News Friday.

He’s argued he(Mahama) buying time with the declaration of his running mate in the lead up to the 2016 elections will not inure to the benefit of the ruling government, as this in essence will only intensify unnecessary divisions within the party.

In his estimation Dr. Baah believes Mr. Amissah Arthur since assuming office has not been given any challenging role in government to have measured his output with, hence it would be unfair for one to refer to him as a failure.It will be politically inexpedient for the President to change him as Vice Presidential candidate ahead of the 2016 elections, he added.

As the clock ticks for Mahama to declare who he’s settled on as his running mate ahead of the 2016 elections, various pro-NDC groups have taken a keen interest to bid for their preferred candidates to be considered for that slot.

A group calling itself Volta Youth for Development – which claims to be non-partisan – recently called on President John Mahama to replace Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur with Speaker of Parliament , Mr Edward Doe Adjaho for the 2016 general elections. The group argues that Mr Amissah-Arthur is “incompetent”.

Leader of the group, Prosper Fofo Ndekor said that President Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) risked losing the 2016 general elections if the former governor of the central bank is retained as running mate.

Another group known as the Ga Adangme Youth of the NDC months ago also started a campaign to root for the AMA Chief Executive to be considered by President Mahama as his running mate ahead of the 2016 elections.