Running Mate Blues… Mahama Confused!

Barring any last minute hitches, the presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama would name his running mate for the December polls.

This brings to a close months of wild speculation over who is likely to partner Mr. Mahama ahead of the elections.

Several names have so far been thrown about in the public space even before the announcement today.

These include former Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang; Cadman Mills, brother of former president J. E. A. Mills; Dr. Nii Moi Thompson and Dr. Kwabena Duffour, owner of now defunct UniBank.

Previously, other names that were rumored included, Foreign Minister, Ms Hannah Serwaan Tetteh, former Finance Minister, Kwesi Botchway; former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah; former boss of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Kwame Awuah Darko and former Agric and Interior Minister, Kwasi Ahwoi.

Also on the list is former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) as well as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould.

Although, all these names have severally been rumored at various times, three names have come up in the last couple of days as suitable candidates including Dr. Thompson, who according to insiders is most likely to be picked to match the NPP’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia boot- -for-boot.

It may be recalled that Dr. Bawumia, moments after his selection as the running mate for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on recently used the occasion to launch subtle jabs at former President Mahama who was deemed to be struggling in arriving at any choice.

Dr. Bawumia said, “It is important to note that my job as a running mate is to support the President in implementing his vision” adding that “The best running mate in the world would not make a difference if the president is indecisive or incompetent.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Mahama has met and had discussions with former president Jerry John Rawlings.

His visit to Mr Rawlings on Saturday, July 4, 2020, according to Mr. Mahama, was to deliberate on NDC-related issues.

Although he did not state exactly what those party issues were, he described the conversation as “very warm discussions as always”, in a twitter post.

Mr. Rawlings in a similar post said same.

In his tweet, he indicated that “flagbearer former president @JDMahama called on me at my office on Saturday morning during which we held warm discussions on party matters.”

Although both former presidents were silent on the issue of ruining mate, sources say Mr. Mahama’s choice of running mate was top on the agenda in the meeting.