Ex-president John Dramani Mahama is committed to leading the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress into the 2024 general elections as the flagbearer.
The former president has, therefore, officially picked nomination forms to contest the upcoming presidential primary, which is slated for May, this year.
Mr Mahama’s forms were picked on his behalf by Professor Joshua Alabi, who was the campaign manager of the NDC in the last general elections held in 2020.
“We are here to pick up the forms for John Dramani Mahama. As you are aware, we are in very difficult times in this country and the economy is in shambles,” Professor Alabi mentioned.
He maintained that the vast majority of Ghanaians were suffering under the current government due to economic mismanagement, hence their cry for a change in the country’s leadership.
Mr Mahama became the first aspirant to pick his nomination forms when the party officially opened the floodgate yesterday, amidst heavy endorsement from some party bigwigs.
It is being speculated that the minority caucus in parliament have overwhelmingly endorsed the candidature of the former president as the best bet of the party, going into the next elections.
The Greater Accra Constituency executives of the party are also said to have declared their support for the former president, ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
Notwithstanding the massive endorsement that Mr John Dramani Mahama has received, it is believed that other potential candidates would give him a good run for his money.
One notable name making the waves as a potential candidate to offer a fierce challenge to Mr Mahama is former finance minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, who is said to be interested in leading the NDC.
Many election watchers have already predicted a landslide victory for Mr Mahama, with some expecting that he is likely to maintain his 2020 running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman.
A victory for Mr Mahama would be the fourth time the former president would be contesting as candidate for the NDC in presidential elections, after his first shot in 2012.
Mr Mahama wanted to complete his mandatory second term in office as a president in 2016, when he took a second shot at the presidency, but he lost to the then opposition candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo
His third attempt also ended in a defeat when Nana Akufo-Addo again emerged the winner in the 2020 general elections, pushing Mr Mahama out again.
NDC withholds Parliamentary Primaries in 23 constituencies
The opposition National Democratic Congress officially opened picking of nomination forms for both presidential and parliamentary primaries on Wednesday.
According to the party, nomination forms for Presidential aspirants could be officially obtained from the Office of the General Secretary at the Party’s Headquarters at Adabraka, Accra, effective 8am yesterday.
However, the picking of nomination forms for Parliamentary Candidates would be accessible to all persons for purchase on the official website of the party; www.ghanandc.com.
Meanwhile, the party has withheld the opening of nominations for its Parliamentary Primaries in 23 constituencies.
The Functional Executive Committee’s decision would be binding and holding, though it did not give any specific reason(s) for the decision.
This means that prospective aspirant in the affected constituencies would not have the chance to pick nominations forms, which officially commenced yesterday.
The affected constituencies are Ayawaso Central, Amasaman, Afram Plains South, Akwatia, Efutu, Gomoa Central, Amenfi East, Evalue Gwira, Assin North, Pusiga, Tarkwa Nsuaem and Ayensuano.
The rest are; Adansi Asokwa, Offinso North, Ahafo Ano North, Sekyere Afram Plains, Ahafo Ano South West (Aduagyman), Bosome Freho, Asante Akim Central, Manso Adubia, Manhyia South, Subin and Fomena
The party’s General Secretary, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said the Functional Executive Committee would announce the date for the opening of nominations in these constituencies in due course.
The opposition NDC) has officially slated the holding of its presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, May 13, 2023 where both their flagbearer and parliamentary candidates would be elected.
The party has, therefore, opened the picking of its nomination forms while the submission and filing of forms would be held on Monday, March 20, 2023 and Wednesday March 22, 2023.
Per official arrangements by the party, an amount of GH¢30,000 would be charged for the picking of the presidential nomination forms with GH¢500,000 as filing fee.
For the parliamentary nomination forms GH¢5,000 would be charged while GH¢40,000 would be paid during the submission.
Meanwhile, women and persons living with disabilities who desire to contest in any of the two main positions would pay 50% of the charges involved in both categories.
