President John Mahama has presented Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, as his preferred choice for the position of running mate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
President Mahama made the declaration on Monday when he met with the party’s National Executive Committee and the National Council.
Speaking to the media at the NDC’s headquarters at Adabraka, President Mahama said he did not struggle with the decision to settle on Mr. Amissah-Arthur.
“I consulted with the council of state and nominated Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur my Vice president as my running mate. Reason being he is able and willing to do the job. He’s got a good track record, he’s been deputy minister, he’s been governor of the Central Bank, he’s been my Vice President, indeed he’s been acting president on occasions I’ve been out of the country. I believe that it’s been a useful partnership. We went into 2012 together and I believe that going into 2016 together we will achieve victory,” he added.
Many lobby groups within the party had argued against the re-nomination of Mr. Amissah-Arthur as running mate, citing his low public visibility.
But the Central Regional branch of the party disagreed, explaining that the Mahama-Amissah-Arthur ticket is the only guarantee for victory in the 2016 general elections.
Some names that popped up as possible replacements for Mr Amissah-Arthur included Hannah-Tetteh, Foreign Minister, Accra Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije and the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.
–
By: Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com