The National Democratic Congress (NDC) chairmen have all joined the Mahama 2020 campaign. The NDC chairmen for the ten regions of Ghana have come together to appeal to former president John Dramani Mahama to contest for the party’s presidential slot in order to lead them in the next general elections coming up in 2020.
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In a communiqué jointly signed and issued by the regional chairmen after a meeting with the former president on Thursday, 9th November, 2017, in Cantonments, Accra, the group first of all requested John Mahama to urgently embark on the already belated ‘Thank You’ tour across the country, to express his gratitude to Ghanaians for their support during the 2016 campaigns and election.
In addition, they urged the immediate past president to consider running for presidency in 2020.
The regional chairmen’s move comes on the heels of Mahama’s call for support for any member of the NDC who would eventually bear the NDC flag in the next elections, stating that he holds no grudges for those who have already declared interest in the party’s presidential slot. Mr. Mahama made the comments during an NDC Unity Walk held in Cape Coast last Sunday.
Mahama had also reiterated his advice to the party to exercise restraints when it comes to who and who will run for the presidency because it is still too early and will affect the party’s re-organisation agenda.
But speaking on TV3 in a recent interview, Joseph Ade Coker, the NDC Greater Accra Regional chairman argued that their move will not affect the reorganization agenda, pointing out that the message contained in the communique is just a proposal which does not in any way stop other party members from filing for the presidential slot.
At a meeting held today, Thursday November 09, 2017, in Cantonments, Accra with HE John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana, we the ten (10) regional chairpersons of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have:
Invited the former President to, as a matter of urgency, embark on the delayed and much-awaited ‘Thank You Tour’ to thank supporters of the NDC for supporting him through his tenure and the party over the years;
Called on HE John Dramani Mahama to consider the request of teeming supporters of the NDC and Ghanaians to lead the party to the 2020 General Elections;
The 10 Chairmen so signed the communique are; Mr Kobina Ade-Coker, Greater Accra; Mr Micheal Aidoo, Western; Alhaji Mumuni Bolnaba, Upper East; Mr John K. Gyapong, Volta; Mr Opoku Atuahene, Brong Ahafo; and Mr Matthew Song-Aabo, Upper West; Mr Bismark Tawiah Boateng, Eastern; and Mr Yaw Obimpeh, Ashanti.
The others are Alhaji Sofo Azorka, Northern and Mr Allotey Jacobs of the Central Region.
A blame game ensued within the family of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), following the humiliating defeat they suffered in the last general elections. Many fingers were pointing to Mahama, the party’s presidential flagbearer and then incumbent president of the Republic.
Another hotly debated issue in the party has been if Mr. Mahama is still interested in the NDC presidential slot, and if he will be allowed a second chance to bear the party’s flag in the 2020 race. Many groups and individuals have so far come out to speak on behalf of the former president on the issue. The views have however, remained divergent.
To end the divisive finger-pointing brouhaha, ousted president Mahama had accepted the blames, while urging the party to rather carry out an investigation to ascertain the very actual reasons that caused them the woeful 2016 election defeat so as to enable the party move forward to a better future.
This however, didn’t stopped the ‘Mahama 2020’ brouhaha within the party. Some party members have remained optimistic about a Mahama 2020 comeback, insisting that the former president remains the party’s best choice for presidency come the next elections, with MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and NDC’s 2016 campaign co-ordinator, Kofi Adams counting among such Mahama sympathisers.
However, all these pressure being mounted on the immediate past president, has not succeeded in pushing him into coming out clear about his intentions for the 2020 presidential elections.
Meanwhile, NDC goes to congress in 2018 to elect flagbearers for the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections. So far, the following party members have declared interest in the presidential slot:
There are also rumours that former Accra Mayor, Okoe Vanderpuije will also contest.
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