Member of Parliament for Nadowli West and Second Deputy Speaker of the House, Honorable Alban Bagbin has given unwavering assurances that he will contest for the presidency come year 2020, notwithstanding who will stand to be his rivals.
“Whether John Dramani Mahama contests the NDC flagbearership or not for the 2020 election, I am also going to contest,” Alban Bagbin strongly indicated.
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Mr. Alban Kinsford Sumani Bagbin’s comments comes to substantiate reports that have been circulating for sometime now, that the former Minister for Health is eyeing the presidential flagbearership of the NDC for the next general elections.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra recently, Mr. Bagbin made it clear that his cordial relationship with both immediate past president John Mahama and incumbent president Nana Akufo-Addo will not deter him from coming out for the presidential position.
“Notwithstanding my personal relationship with former President John Dramani Mahama, I am coming for the Presidency,” the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Like former President Mahama, I also have personal ties with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but I am equally ready to contest and win the 2020 polls,” he stated.
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Speaking further, the Nadowli West MP expressed disappointment in the leadership style of both the past and present presidents, pointing out their “failure to promote inclusiveness and the culture of tolerance where Ghanaians will live in peace with one another irrespective of party affiliations”.
“They don’t seem to like the Presidency, so I am coming for it to change the status quo we find ourselves in,’’ he added.
He further stressed that he has political ideas that are completely different from those of Mahama and Akufo-Addo, hence the need for him to come out and serve Ghanaians. According to Mr Bagbin, “We are all unique creatures of God and each of us have something to offer. So let the citizenry make a decision.”
He therefore, advised party members not to allow themselves to be cajoled into submission when it is time to choose a flag bearer for the party, but should critically assess all the candidates and make a conscious and reasonable decision to move the party forward.
‘’If you have a party that does not criticise itself, then it is a dead party,” he warned NDC members; adding that “the people’s interest must be paramount” in every democracy, therefore party members must not show timidity but come out boldly to declare their stance.
Mr Bagbin said he is not into politics for selfish gains but to serve the people he represents in truth, honesty and humility. He also urged NDC members to come out with their views and perspectives on issues concerning the nation and the party.
“There is everything good about diversity so when you hold back, you deny the people and society the benefits of multi-party democracy and the goodness the Almighty God had sown in us,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Alban Bagbin is not the only member of the NDC that has recently indicated interest in the 2020 presidential race. Others include former Trade Minister, Dr. Spio-Garbrah; former NHIA boss, Slyvester Mensah, former UPSA V. C, Prof. Joshua Alabi, and former MP for La-Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale. There are slao rumours that former Accra Mayor, Okoe Vanderpuije will also contest.
This however, happens to be the second time Mr. Bagbin is publicly declaring his intention to run for the presidency. Recall that in 2008, he announced his intentions to run for president on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress. He however, didn’t stand for the primaries.
Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin is a Ghanaian politician and a lawyer by profession. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and English at the University of Ghana in 1980. He then proceeded to the Ghana School of Law at Makola in Accra after which he was called to the bar in 1982.
Alban Bagbin who was born on 24th September 1957, hails from the Upper West Region. He has over the years, held several government positions in Ghana including Minister for Health (till 2013), Majority Leaderof Parliament (2009), Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing under the Atta Mills administration.
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