The NDC’s Northern Regional Caucus has advised the party’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, to reevaluate his selection of a running mate for the upcoming 2024 general elections, specifically suggesting the exclusion of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman.
The decision was reached during a meeting with former President John Mahama, as reported by the DailyGuide Newspaper on November 23, 2023.
Expressing concerns about the reselection of Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the caucus highlighted her failure to secure the Central Region for the NDC in the 2020 elections.
The meeting, held before Mahama’s fundraising trip to Canada and the United States, questioned the professor’s performance and suitability for the role of running mate and potentially vice president.
Quoted statements from senior caucus members emphasized the changing circumstances since the 2020 election and the perceived impact of Bawumia in the Northern Region.
There were also concerns about securing votes in the NPP’s strongholds, particularly the Ashanti Region, and addressing potential rigging challenges in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions.
“Circumstances have changed since the selection of Naana Jane for the 2020 election, Anyone who tells you that Bawumia will not have an impact in the Northern Region is misleading you” one of the senior members of the caucus is quoted to have said.
Another also stated that “Now that Bawumia is likely to gain votes in our supposed strongholds, what are we doing to secure votes in the NPP’s stronghold, particularly the Ashanti Region? A major challenge for us is how to prevent rigging in the Ashanti and Eastern Region.”
A report on November 22 mentioned that the NDC flagbearer anticipates starting the process to select a running mate for the party in the coming year, 2024.