In a significant development within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Council convened on December 6, 2023, and acceded to a request by the party’s flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, for an extension of time to select his running mate for the upcoming 2024 elections.
The decision was made public by Justin Frimpong Kodua, the General Secretary of the NPP, during a post-meeting press conference. Kodua explained that the request for an extension stemmed from Vice President Bawumia’s recent election on November 4, 2023. The newly elected flagbearer requested additional time to engage in further consultations before presenting his proposed running mate to the National Council.
“Upon request from the presidential candidate that because his election was done on the 4th of November 2023, he needs a bit of time to continue with his consultation before he brings the proposed name for running mate to the National Council, and this was unanimously agreed by the National Council,” Kodua stated.
The NPP’s constitution mandates the selection of a vice-presidential candidate one year before the elections. However, given the circumstances surrounding Bawumia’s recent election, the party leadership deemed it reasonable to grant the requested extension.
Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary, clarified that Vice President Bawumia did not present any potential candidates during the meeting. “He did not come to the meeting with any of these names. No name was proposed to us today,” Mohammed affirmed during an interview with Joy FM.
Several names have been circulating in the media as potential running mates for Bawumia, including Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister; Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister; Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei Opare; and Kwabena Agyepong, among others.
It’s worth noting that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo handed over the leadership of the NPP to Bawumia last month after a 16-year tenure. As per the NPP’s constitutional provisions, Dr. Bawumia, following his victory in the presidential primaries, assumed the role of the new leader of the party while awaiting the appointment of his running mate.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com
