NDC Running Mate: Dr. Duffour Is The Wild Card And Surest Bet For JM’s Victory!

The NDC is witnessing a prolonged debate as to who is best placed to be the running mate to the 2024 flagbearer, former President John Mahama, as the date for that announcement is reportedly shifted to later this month or early March.

Mr. Mahama is facing intense lobbying from various power blocs within the party and interested stakeholders across the country.

The names of possible contenders being tossed around include: former Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who partnered with former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 election; former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor; former Chief of Staff to President Mahama, Julius Debrah; an economist, Dr Nii Moi Thompson; Member of Parliament for Asunafo, Eric Opoku; and recently retired Police Commissioner, Nathan Kofi Boakye.

The latest name to pop up in the list of contenders is the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV.

Choosing an economist to run with the presidential candidate has so far dominated conversations among political analysts and those in the upper echelons of the party.

This is a result of Ghana’s current economic crisis, which appears to have made Ghanaians want an economist to govern the nation in order to get it out of it.

Considering the high unemployment rate in the nation, some Ghanaians desired that a businessman would be elected as the next president in order to assist in increasing work opportunities for the populace.

Unfortunately, the dominant opposition has selected the non-economist former president, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, as their flagbearer, while the ruling New Patriotic Party has selected Dr. Bawumia, the vice president and economist, as their flagbearer.

Many leading experts believe that former President John Dramani Mahama choosing former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor as his running mate will be a wise move for victory for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), based on the two major factors that Ghanaians may consider in the upcoming 2024 election: economics and businessmanship.

Dr. Duffuor comes to the Running Mate table with his stellar records as Finance Minister, which are stronger than the indicators under Dr. Bawumia as head of the economic management team.

In economic terms, Duffuor is tipped to be much of a gravitas in helping President Mahama create more jobs for Ghanaians because of his appeal among the business gurus in the country.

 

 

 

Leading Experts Analysis

An analysis by Mr. Bernard Koku Avle, who is a Ghanaian media personality and public speaker, said that the choice of Dr. Duffour as the running mate for JM stands out as the most cogent and apt decision for the upcoming elections. Avele emphasizes that in an election cycle dominated by economic concerns, having an economist, a banker, and an accomplished businessperson on the ticket is crucial.

Dr. Duffour’s extensive experience and expertise in economics and banking make him the ideal candidate to help JM address the nation’s economic challenges.

Comparing Dr. Duffour to his potential opponent, Bawumia, Avle argues that while Bawumia may possess knowledge and experience, Dr. Duffour’s seniority and depth of understanding surpass those of his counterpart. This positions Dr. Duffour as the wildcard for victory, offering a compelling choice that aligns with the electorate’s primary concerns about the economy.

Mr. Bernard noted that politically, the choice of Dr. Duffuor as a running mate will change the political dynamics and threaten the NPP’s votes in the Ashanti region because he is a son of Ashanti and one of the region’s success stories.

There is an argument that the NDC must learn to compete in the Ashanti Region for at least 35% of the votes cast in order to secure victory in 2024, and Duffuor may likely present that unique opportunity since the Ashanti Region currently has over 3 million registered voters.

 

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Also, one political analyst, Samuel Boateng, has opined that former President John Dramani Mahama choosing former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor as his running mate for the 2024 election will be a prudent move for victory for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr. Samuel Boateng said the strong financial background of the former governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, will be a politically suitable add-on for John Dramani Mahama to grab power in the upcoming election.

He added that experience, knowledge, track record, and readiness for proper governance are some traits Dr. Duffuor possesses that can positively influence the victory of John Mahama should he select him as his running mate for the 2024 election.

“I believe it will be beneficial if Mahama selects Dr. Duffuor as a running mate because looking at his vision, level of intelligence, wisdom, and political background as a former finance minister and a former governor of the Bank of Ghana shows his worth on the political market,” he said.

As a true statesman, he is the only former minister in the Republic who, during his four years as finance minister, did not accept a salary, reside in a government bungalow, use official vehicles for official business, or purchase fuel from the government.

 

 

 

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor

A former Governor of the Bank of Ghana during the tenure of President Jerry John Rawlings, he is also a former Finance Minister who served the late President Atta Mills and later President John Mahama. He is currently the founder and president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), an economic policy think tank he established in 2013.

He was named one of the four best Central Bank governors in the world at an IMF/World Bank meeting in 1999.

He is a Fellow of the Akuafo Hall, University of Ghana, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Duffuor is the founder and chairman of HODA Holdings, a business entity comprising insurance, banking, real estate, farming, mining, and media.

He is also the founder of Unibank.

He ran in the NDC’s 2023 presidential primary but withdrew.

 

 

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