By: Ishmael Newton ogah:
Spokesperson for ‘Concerned Youth For The President’, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, a grassroot pressure group supporting the ruling NDC party in the Central Region has expressed their deep regret and disappointment in the president for retaining the vice president, Amissah Arthur as his running mate heading into the 2016 general elections.
Mr. Mandela Prince said they were not expecting the president to turn down their petition and that some Executive Members in the party might have influenced the president’s decision by not giving him ample time to make an informed choice.
According to Mr. Mandela, they believe the decision taken by the Council of Elders and other Executive Members in the party will put the party in a disadvantageous position heading into next year’s polls. He said they had taken a careful look at the testimonial presented by the president about his Veep and they believe Miss Hannah-Tetteh won’t score any less of a testimonial.
“We need a more marketable candidate that can market the party and bring (us) victory in 2016 by adding more votes to that of our presidential candidate,” Mr. Mandela said, adding that most of the votes the president garnered in the Central Region in 2012 did not come as a result of the Vice President Amissah Arthur’s status but rather a sympathy vote for the late President, John Evans Atta Mills. The only person to retain these sympathy votes in the Central Region towards next year is Miss Hannah Tetteh.
He said the fact that, Miss Hannah Tetteh gathered 95% endorsement in her constituency in the last primaries is enough evidence of her strengths while adding that the Vice President doesn’t have any constituency. According to him the running mate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mohamudu Bawumia is more advertised to the Ghanaian public as compared to the Vice President.
Mr. Mandela said even though the president has retained Paa Kwasi Amissah Arthur, his performance in relation to the administration of the country’s affairs is very poor as he lacks the necessary skills needed in the administration of a country. “He will make our work very difficult and (though) he is even supposed to be battling Dr. Bawumia, he’s dull and sleeping,” Mr. Mandela charged. He said the group was highly and deeply disappointed in the president for retaining Amissah Arthur as running-mate.
Giving a background to the group, Mr. Mandela Prince, speaking on the Rite Morning Ride said “Concerned Youth for His Excellency John Dramani Mahama”, has been in existence for almost seven years now with its sole responsibility of helping in the campaigning for the ruling NDC party.
Source: ritefmonline.org
