Allow Bawumia To Do His Job... - Dr. Otchere-Ankrah Replies FIDA & Others

Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has waded into the conversation regarding the selection of a suitable candidate to partner Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as his Running Mate into the December 7 presidential polls.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party, is still in the consultation stage looking for the best person to choose for the Running Mate slot.

There are incessant calls on him to consider certain people within the party; among them are the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation, Nana Akomea, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, Henry Kwabena Kokofu.

Others are also advocating a female to be his Running Mate. 

According to the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), it is about time a woman was chosen into such leading role.

"When you take US, it took them 200 years to get a female Running Mate or a woman who is currently their Vice President. We won't sit down for it to be 200 years before we choose a woman as Running Mate; we have to speak out...Voting is not peculiar to men alone. We are all equal citizens. So, why can't we open up and give both men and women the same opportunities?", FIDA argued.

Speaking to Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah noted that the choice of a Running Mate is the sole decision of the Vice President, hence called for him to be given the latitude to make his own selection.

The Governance Lecturer at the Central University argued that no matter how many people are suggested for the position, only one can occupy the slot adding the buck stops with the presidential candidate of the party.

"Let's leave it to the candidate to make his choice. But if he make the selection early, it will help to give him a peace of mind. The more it is tallying, the more the lobbying will be going on", he responded.

He however vouched for Mr. Henry Kokofu as his best choice to partner Dr. Bawumia, explaining that Mr. Kokofu has got the qualities to help the NPP flagbearer achieve his vision.