Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has declared that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) electoral chances in the next election will not be saved by a running mate.
For any prospective running mate, Okudzeto Ablakwa claims that the profound problems and shortcomings of the Akufo-Addo administration present an impossible obstacle.
Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized the general dissatisfaction of the population with the current government, citing pervasive corruption, inefficiency, and what he viewed as a betrayal of the Ghanaian people.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile show on Saturday, June 22, the former Deputy Education Minister emphasized that there needs to be a change in leadership since Ghanaians’ complaints about the NPP are real and broad.
Mr. Ablakwa, who serves as the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, affirmed that the time has come for the NPP to exit office swiftly, asserting that the government’s record is sufficient grounds for its dismissal by the electorate.
“We take the view that no matter who is brought as a running mate, the mess, the rot, the betrayal of trust,, and the anger of Ghanaians, that running mate will not save the ticket. This NPP government must leave immediately without delay so that this country will be rescued from the current mess,” he said.
The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has reportedly surveyed to determine who should be the running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming elections.
The NIB survey indicated that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the energy minister, is widely preferred among party members to be the running mate to Dr. Bawumia.
Dr Bawumia is yet to announce his running mate for the 2024 general election scheduled for December 7, 2024—a development some political analysts have described as “long overdue.”
The NIB report, which sampled the views of 5,116 NPP delegates nationwide, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives, said 76.2 percent of respondents preferred Dr. Prempeh as Dr Bawumia’s running mate.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, garnered 10.16 responses.
Other candidates that made the list included Apostle Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Pentecost Church-Ghana, and Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Agriculture and MP for Abetifi Constituency.