The Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kakra Essamuah has shot down claims that former President John Dramani Mahama has delayed in naming a running mate.
According to him, the NDC has a clear strategy and timetable they are following for all their activities including the naming of a running mate saying an announcement will be made when the time is due.
The former President has been under undue pressure to name his running mate for the 2020 election which is about 7 months away.
Several comments have come in from all directions as to what may have accounted for the delay in announcing the running mate especially at a time when Mr. Mahama has indicated that he has a “clear idea” of who will partner him but cannot announce it now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few days ago, a member of the NDC and former Minister for Information, Mahama Ayariga said Mr. Mahama has taken too long in selecting a running mate for the December 7 polls.
“He’s had a lot of time. He was chosen as leader of the opposition long ago so he’s had enough time to have decided who his running mate is. I cannot explain why up till now he has not announced his running mate,” he said in an interview on Joy News.
Responding to these claims, Mr. Kakra Essamuah said he strongly disagrees with all persons who say there’s been a delay especially when the NDC has not been known for selecting its running mate early.
According to him, data from 1992 to 2012 shows that the party mostly selects a running mate at least four months to the elections which means the party still has time.
“Just to deal with this issue of delay in announcing a running mate, I have dates here, in 1992 it was October, in 1996 it was in September, in 2000 it was September, in 2004 it was in October, in 2008 it was in April and in 2012 it was August, so if you look at the dates and you strike an average, where’s the delay? Delay according to whose timetable? I just want the public to know that there’s nothing like delay, we have a timetable we follow, we have a strategy and we will follow that strategy. When the time is right, the flagbearer will announce his running mate.”
“We have our program we are following, the announcement of running mates, the introduction of a manifesto, all those issues are strategic issues that deal with communication. It is our strategy, nobody can force us to work according to somebody’s supposed expectations. Mahama Ayariga is my brother, I disagree with him entirely.”
Source: abcnewsgh
