The race for a Running Mate (RM) choice for the 2024 general elections has been intense with several names making rounds. The decision for the most suitable to fit the RM slot is very crucial for the NDC at this uneven time.
The NDC Running Mate (RM) race and what history tells us!
In the midst of all these, the name LMT stand tall as the ideal choice for the party. He represent renewed hope and undiluted energy the party needs to help rebuild the the country Nana Addo with his NPP have razed down.
Many have speculated JM to retain Prof Jane as the RM for the 2024 general elections but history taught us a bitter lesson in the 2016 general elections where then VEEP was maintained as the RM.
NDC flagbearers have selected their running mates in ELECTION YEARS except for the 2016 general elections where then flagbearer JM selected it’s running mate in December 2015.
In 2000, Prof Mills selected Mr Martin Amidu as his RM in September 2000. Though it was widely speculated that Dr Obed Asamoah was going to be chosen as RM, Prof Mills settled for Martin Amidu.
In 2004, five RM choices were shortlisted including Alhaji Muhammed Mumuini, John Mahama, Baba Kamara and Dr. Mustapha Iddrisu but when the dust settled Prof Mills chose Alhaji Muhammed Mumuini as his RM in September 2004.
John Mahama was chosen as a running mate by Prof Mills in April 2008. Prior to this choice, Mohammed Mumuni, Betty -Mould Iddrisu and Alban Bagbin were highly speculated to fill be potential names to fill the RM slot.
After the demise of Prof Mills, JM chose Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur as veep and outdoured him as his running mate in September 2012. H.E Amissah Arthur was maintained as a running for JM in the 2016 general elections. Names such as madam Hannah Tetteh and Doe Adjaho featured strongly for the RM role. It is worthy to note that Mr Amissah Arthur has been the only candidate to be presented twice as RM for the party.
In June 2020, JM picked Prof Jane as his RM for the 2020 general elections. Prof Jane was earlier not part of the names shortlisted to be considered for the RM role.
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From history it is evident that the NDC has been changing it’s running mate for every general elections except in the case of 2016 where the then sitting veep was maintained as RM for which the NDC lost massively to the NPP.
The NDC did lots of introspection after this defeat and it believed the party learnt it valuable lessons.
As the NDC approaches the 2024 general elections, the party cannot afford to disappoint suffering Ghanaians and as such shouldn’t leave any stone unturned.
It is highly expected the NDC will therefore go by the convention of replacing RM’s at every general elections and choose a new face for the slot, which in no doubt should be Mr Leslie Mensah Tamakloe to marshall the numbers the party needs in winning massively come 2024 general elections.
It is striking also to note that the party needs to present a candidate who can as well succed JM in January 7, 2029 and LMT stand tall in this light.
Francis Acquah
Member, CDG