Don't pressure Mahama into choosing running mate from Volta Region — Regional Secretary
The Volta Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr James Gunu, has advised agitating youth in the region to stop pressurising the party's flag bearer, Mr John Dramani Mahama, to choose his running mate from the region.
He said the move was a way of setting a “trap" for Mr Mahama which was dangerous and uncharacteristic of a social democratic party.
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Mr Gunu was reacting to reports that suggested some groups had petitioned the party hierarchy to impress upon the flag bearer to choose his running mate from the region.
Unnecessary calls
The regional secretary said inasmuch as he respected the views of the group, he believed the call was "unnecessary."
“Article 43 of our party's constitution is clear on the choice of a vice presidential candidate and so I urge our party folks, especially those who are pushing for the selection of a person from the Volta Region to remain calm and afford the flag bearer the opportunity to select a suitable person who will definitely be a Ghanaian irrespective of tribe, religion and gender," he stated.
Mr Gunu, a former District Chief Executive of Akatsi North, said there were very good reasons for which the party's constitution was crafted that way.
Patience
He, therefore, urged members and sympathisers of the party to have confidence in the flagbearer and remain solidly behind him to select a candidate that would support him to secure massive victory in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr Gunu said it was necessary that party members prepared to accept and be ready to work with anyone chosen, irrespective of where he or she hailed from to promote national cohesion going into the general election.
Background
A group calling itself ‘Volta Region for NDC Veep now’ last week called on the leadership of the NDC to pick a candidate from the Volta Region as the running mate for Mr Mahama ahead of the 2020 polls.
According to the youth, led by Mr Jerry Gayibor, it was the best way to restore the core values of the party and the confidence of the people within the region that had been loyal to the umbrella family over the years
“This is the time Volta Region must be rewarded for showing their long-term loyalty and commitment to the party since 1992 because other regions are also aware of Volta Region’s commitment towards the NDC party and that is an indisputable fact,” the group said in a statement. - GNA