The dust over who would partner former President John Dramani Mahama going into the 2020 elections has settled, following the announcement of former Education Minister Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate.
The announcement followed a unanimous decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday. Ghanaians waited with bated breath for the unveiling, amidst wide speculation that she would be the chosen one.
The choice of Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has been received with mixed reactions, which is usual in politics.
Whereas some supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) argue that she is no match for Dr Bawumia, supporters of the NDC disagree.
The NPP followers also referred to her abysmal performance at the Education Ministry, a sector she led under the previous Mahama administration, which scrapped teacher trainees’ allowances for instance.
On his Facebook page, the flagbearer of the party, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, described the first female Vice Chancellor of a public university in Ghana, Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang, as a distinguished scholar.
According to the former president, he is now officially announcing a running mate, “Naana Jane is Godfearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model.”
According to some political analysts, her supervision of the cancelation of the teacher trainee allowance, which her boss, Mr. Mahama, defended even at the peril of his presidency, may have an effect on the chances of the NDC ticket.
It would be recalled that when teacher trainees were agitating for the restoration of their allowances or would vote against Mr. Mahama, the latter gave a hard-hitting response that a dead goat did not fear a knife.
That notwithstanding, the drama that surrounded the announcement of a running mate for the NDC was one that fits a Hollywood movie script, with interesting casts.
The likes of ex-Finance Minister Kwesi Botchway; former boss of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST, Kwame Awuah Darko; former Agric and Interior Minister Kwasi Ahwoi were on the list.
Others are Dr Kwabena Duffuor, a former Finance Minister, Alex Mould, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Dr Zanetor Rawlings, Legislator for Korley Klottey constituency.
Perhaps, in choosing his running mate, Mr. Mahama did not give out much to the public over who would be selected to partner him for the December 7 polls.
Some had even rumoured that the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, were in line for selection. ‘
Eric Opoku was, however, rumoured to have been nominated as far back as March, this year, but Mr. Mahama urged the public to disregard those “fake” reports, the first time he spoke publicly on the subject.
Also, in one of his virtual interactions in April, Mahama, answering a question on when the announcement of a running mate should be expected, said he had a firm idea about who he wanted as a running mate.
Over the last weekend, Mr. Mahama met with the Founder of the party, Jerry John Rawlings, to discuss party-related matters, which included his choice of a running mate.
This paper further gathered that regional chairmen of the NDC also met with the flagbearer over the candidature of Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang, during which reports indicated they were not pleased with the choice.
By convention, every running mate faces off with the vice president of the ruling party, in this case, Dr Bawumia, raising questions of whether Prof. Opoku-Agyeman, known for her academic prowess, would be able to match the astute economist, who many believe has raised the bar in his vice presidential duties.
Again, if the NDC wins the polls, the running mate, by convention, is expected to chair the Economic Management Team, a position many are of the opinion may be difficult terrain for Professor Opoku-Agyemang, without a finance and economics background.
Ostensibly, others say the likes of John Mahama himself and Alhaji Aliu Mahama were vice presidents with no background in finance and economics. John Mahama later rose to become President.
In an acceptance statement issued shortly after her announcement, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said her nomination was not a personal achievement, but victory for inclusive and participatory democracy, “which enhances the credentials of our country and recognises the towering role women have played over the ages to achieve the progress we have made.
“I pledge to diligently apply myself and dedicate all the energy and intellect I can muster to ensure a resounding victory for the NDC and for our country, Ghana. So help me God,” she ended.
The Professor taught and worked at the University of Cape Coast from 1986 and held various academic positions, including Head of the Department of English, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Warden of Adehye Hall, Valco Trust Fund Post-Graduate Hostel, and the Founding Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, in 1997, held the position of Academic Director of the School for International Training in the History and Cultures of .the African Diaspora.
She chaired over 20 Boards and Committees including the Council of the University College of Education Winneba 1998-2002; Joint Co-coordinator of the Specialist Programme in English Language and Ghanaian Culture for Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers 1991-1993.
The post At Long Last, Mahama Gets Running Mate appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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