5 ways in which NDC benefits from Prof. Naana Jane’s outdooring as Mahama’s running mate

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) officially unveiled Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as its running mate for the 2024 presidential elections on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

This marks her second consecutive time partnering with former President John Dramani Mahama in the race to recapture executive power from the New Patriotic Party.

The event, held at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), was attended by NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, his wife Lordina, and numerous National and Regional executives, as well as scores of NDC lawmakers and hundreds from across the rank and file.

Here are five key takeaways from the event:

1. Reintroduction of Prof. Naana Jane: The event aimed to present a new, more assertive image of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, signaling her readiness to take on the role of Vice President after the 2024 polls.
2. Setting the Tone for the Campaign: The event served as a subtle kickoff for the NDC’s campaign, setting the tone for the party’s strategy to wrestle power from the NPP after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
3. Hard-hitting Statements: Prof. Naana Jane delivered a speech that included strong criticisms of the government, particularly on issues of corruption. She emphasized the need for accountability and promised that those involved in corrupt practices would be held accountable.
4. Rallying Gender Solidarity: As Ghana’s first female Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Jane’s candidacy has garnered support from women voters who see her as a symbol of gender empowerment and a potential first female Vice President.
5. Readiness to Engage with NPP VP Candidate: Prof. Naana Jane’s posture and delivery at the event set a standard for whoever is chosen as the NPP’s running mate to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. Her performance will likely be compared to that of the NPP’s eventual choice.

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a former Minister for Education and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, was also the running mate for the NDC in the 2020 election, which was unsuccessful. However, her nomination for the second time maintains the possibility of her becoming Ghana’s first female Vice President if the NDC wins the 2024 election.