Is the NDC ready for an Ashanti running mate?

L-R: Alex Mould and Dr. Kwabena Duffuor The popular Ghanaian saying that "adzi wo fie a oye" to wit it is good when it is home, comes to mind when I think about the possible names to be considered for the running mate position from the various Akan regions, to partner the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama.

Most people in Ghana have believed this saying to be political because, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory, is quoted to have used it in a statement to tell his kinsmen (Fantes) that if they voted for him, their own, it was better than any other and thus was also repeated by his successor, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, when he was quoted in 2012 saying northerners should massively vote for him to also register a ‘Northern President’ after Dr. Hilla Limanm.

Comrade Ato Kwamina in his recent piece said leading members of the NDC party who hail from the southern regions, had started intense lobbying to justify why they and their regions merit the number two slot in the party.

He further stated that the following traditional regions, Western, Eastern, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central and Brong Ahafo have at least one person as an indigene lobbying for selection.

According to him, the presentation of these Vice Presidential hopefuls was their claim that, their regions also need to produce an NDC Running Mate.

In the concluding part of his article, he made some thought-provoking statement on why he thinks the running mate should be an Ashanti which many political pundits also believe that it will go a long way to enhance NDC’s electoral fortunes in 2020. After all, the last time an Ashanti was very close to power in NDC i.e. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, they managed between 32 to 34% in percentage votes which goes to confirm the Ashanti adage, “the one seeking to bring glory to the Asante Kingdom should not be denied support.”

Ashanti Region is the largest Region in Ghana now, with 47 constituencies.

The political dynamics in Ashanti Region is very diverse and complex. The NDC in recent times has done not so well in the Ashanti Region. The NDC percentage votes in Ashanti Region has dwindled from 34% in 1992 to 23% in 2016 (33% in 1996, 22% in 2000, 25% in 2004, 27% in 2008, 28% in 2012, and 23% 2016).

It has been reported that the New […]

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