NDC Race: Central Region Expresses High Hope In Bagbin

Party supporters and a session of the National Democratic Congress in the Central Region have backed with high hopes in the message being preached by the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.

About Twelve aspirants have so far declared their intent to contest for the position with all coming out with interesting messages on how they intend to strengthen the party should they be given the mandate of the people.

Apart from former President Mahama, who wants a second shot at the presidency, former Rector of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Second Deputy Speaker and NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, are all in the race.

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester A. Mensah, former Central Regional Minister and NDC MP for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, are also contesting.

However, in the minds of the people of Central Region, especially, the party’s delegates, one personality among the twelve aspiring flagbearer hopefuls stands out.

In the view of the delegates, it is high time the party elects someone like Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin because according to them, he is well experienced in governance and could build a very good relationship between the party and the government when they win power in 2020 and beyond.

Another point worth considering as raised by the delegates is someone who has stood the test of time in battling their main political rival, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at any fora and brought admiration to the NDC family.

“I have personally followed all the flagbearer hopefuls and the kind of message they are sending across both on air and meetings with delegates in the regions. Hon. Bagbin has really demonstrated that it was not for nothing that the people of Nadowli/Kaleo constituency has retained him in Parliament since 1993. His wealth of experience begins to manifest as soon as he starts addressing the people. Where we are as a party, there is no need to make any mistake again. We have to go for the best and to me Hon. Bagbin stands out having been tried and tested as leader of the opposition in 2001 through to 2008 and then as Majority Leader when the party won power”, a party elder who wants to remain anonymous told journalists in an interview.

Another executive at one of the branches in Heman Lower Denkyira constituency said ” in my view Hon. Bagbin is the best candidate among all those who have declared their intent to contest the flagbearer race of the NDC. He will have my vote. I will also ensure that others also vote for him”.

94 MPs

The former president has however after his declaration to contest enjoyed the support of a large number of NDC members and it would be a shocker if he is not able to win the position for 2020.

Some political observers have even said it’s going to be a mere formality for him but the camp of Prof Alabi has disputed that analysis.

Recently, 94 out of 106 or so NDC MPs declared their support for the former president sparking heated debate in the party.

The list included two MPs from Ashanti, nine from Brong Ahafo, three from Central, six from Eastern, 12 from Greater Accra and 16 from the Northern Region.

The rest included 12 from Upper East, three from Upper West, 21 from Volta and 11 from Western Region.

Conspicuously missing on the list of endorsement were NDC MPs like Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Ketu North and deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and MP for Keta, Richard Quashigah, who belongs to the Prof Alabi camp.

Also, MP for Yunyoo in the Northern Region, Joseph Bipoba Naabu, who clearly does not like former President Mahama, said the MPs were ‘blackmailed’ into making an endorsement.