According to deputy minister for roads and highways, Stephen Pambiin Jalulah, the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is the finest candidate to succeed President Akufo-Addo.
Speaking to the mediaon Sunday, March 12, the Pru West MP said he was confident that the Vice President would succeed the president ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
Even though, the conversation on the programme centred on President Akufo-Addo’s claim that his administration has built more roads than any other government in Ghana’s 4th Republican history, the Deputy Minister could not hide his desire for Dr Bawumia to become NPP’s next flagbearer and Ghana’s next president.
He was arguing against claims by members of the opposition National Democratic Congress the Akufo-Addo administration dare not take credit for the Pokuase Interchange because an NDC-led government secured funding for the project. But the Deputy Minister insisted that actual works, including sod-cutting, started in the Akufo-led administration.
“The construction of the Pokuase Interchange was just a dream to them (NDC) because constantly, we don’t have enough and as a result we are constantly looking outside either to get the commercial facility or the grant to come and cause the development of the nation.
His argument was that whoever executes a project takes credit for it, not those who dreamt it.
“Now if you go to talk to the government and people of Japan that we need an interchange at this point please help us; and we are even doing one currently but I will not name the place- which will not materialise under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo but the next government which will be Insha Allah Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, but Nana Akufo-Addo cannot claim credit for what he is doing now for an interchange to be built in another city of the country.
“It is a dream which must happen because governance is a continuous process,” he said.
Already, several bigwigs in the party including the former Trades and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, and the former Agriculture Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto have declared their intentions to seek the party’s mandate to lead it as flagbearer for the 2024 election.
Even though, the Vice President has not officially declared his candidacy, party folks and political analysts say it is only a matter of time when he declares his interest.
It is his anticipated candidacy the Deputy Minister has thrown his weight behind.
Deadlock with date for primaries
The National Executive Committee and the National Council of the governing NPP, has a couple times failed to agree on a date for its presidential and parliamentary primaries.
A meeting on Thursday, February 2, which had in attendance the President, the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, some Members of Parliament and presidential hopefuls which was expected to officially set a date for the remaining two elections on the party’s calendar ended in a deadlock.
Already, blocs within the party are pushing for an early congress whilst others want the party to stick to its constitution of electing a flagbearer 12 months to a major election.