The Minister of Sports Nii Lante Vanderpuije has served notice President John Mahama will return as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate in the 2020 elections, despite a humiliating defeat in the December polls.
Speaking on Starr FM Wednesday, Mr. Vanderpuije stressed Mahama will be “forced” by party members to stage a comeback because he is the obvious choice to lead the outgoing NDC government.
“We’ll force John Mahama to go,” the MP for Odododiodoo said.
The outspoken and controversial lawmaker is optimistic his boss will be on the ballot again in four years’ time, adding there is no way his running mate Kwesi Amissah-Arthur will contest if Mahama declines.
“If John Mahama will not go, Amissah-Arthur will not go,” Mr. Vanderpuije was emphatic, noting that a reverse decision by the outgoing vice president will be a “betrayal” of his boss.
President Mahama lost the 2016 elections by a shocking 1.5 million votes difference to veteran opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo, who polled 53%. He becomes the first sitting president under the Fourth Republic to have tasted defeat. The president-elect will be sworn in come January 7, 2017.
In the event Mahama refuses to contest the next elections, Mr. Vanderpuije could not place his bet on former flagbearer hopeful Ekow Spio-Garbrah, 63, arguing age has caught up with him. He believes the party may consider a young and vibrant candidate and also ruled out the outgoing chief of staff, Julius Debrah.
“Julius Debrah will not go, I know him. He is my former boss. He would have given me a hint,” Mr. Vanderpuije opined.
He has, however, sent a note of caution to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to “watch out” because the NDC is going to “correct our mistakes and come back like ‘kakai’”.
Source: starr FM
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It will not work. We cannot pay double retirement benefit for only one man and we shall use that to campaign against him so do not try
This is why they lost miserably.....Arrogance!!! If NDC had any electoral sense they would know that Mahama is the weak link. Mahama became the president through the "backdoor". Even in 2012 when he won the elections, he won it with just a margin of less than 300k. And sympathy vote as a result of the death of Mills gave him this margin. In 2016 with all resources and advantage of imcumbency he (Mahama) lost by a margin of 1.5 million votes. Is this someone you impose on NDC members to wrestle power from NPP in 2020? Forgeltttt it wai.
The guy forgot to mention the influence of Jerry Rawlings! Look, the party like it or leave it was formed by JJR. He holds sway and has great influence in Volta. The moment he asked Volta not to vote for NDC, their support crumbled. The NDC - JDM - thought it would work for them just as they humiliated JJR 4 years earlier, but every "dog" will have his day. Underestimating JJR was their biggest mistake. Here is a man and I am no fan of his but the truth must be told; here is a man who waited and planned and plotted after May 15th into June 4th and then even in retirement, plotted and planned and executed sucessfully 31st December 1981. Now get this, since these lot don't learn from history - it was the same duo - Rawlings and Tsikata who were behind 31st December 1981. These same people were behind 7th December 2016. These "latter day saints" will never learn! It's not about the candidate, it's about strategy and since you'd written off the strategists in your party, thinking you could make it, it was a case of "ok, let's see you do it"! You also failed Ghanaians big time. You lied to them. You abused the clergy and became so arrogant! Next time, try being humble :) . It will take a while for trust to return. For now, put in "dark horses"who would keep the seat warm. You ain't going anywhere so fast! You always want Power without Responsibility..... That is you biggest challenge. Be responsible. Lessons learnt?? Zilch from your submission. Sit calmly and learn lessons.
The greatest job Mahama can do for the NDC is that he should be the pivot for the re-grouping of the NDC. Others mus the given a chance too. Haruna Iddrisu, Victor Smith, George Loh would be the new face of the NDC. It is true that he would be seen as GHANA'S MOST GREEDY if he decides to run again for president.
Why shld Mahama run again for president - "by force? He virtually destroyed the NDC and he must be told the TRUTH. From the FORD Saga, MONTIE 3 GITMO 2, BRAZIL FIASCO & appointment of Elvis & Adu-Asare et, these were decisions he took that made it DIFFICULT for the NDC to defend during the campaign. He is about to take his x-gratia together with cars, free holidays, houses etc and he would keep that and come to run for president and come for more x-gratia together with cars, free holidays, houses? WHAT A GREEDY PERSON HE WOULD BE. In fact he would earn the big title- GHANA'S MOST GREEDY
These guys will never learn.
IF BY MISTAKE U MAKE THESE TAMALE SHS BOYS BACK TO LEAD NDC, THE PARTY IS FINISHED FOR LIFE. COULDN'T YOU SEE HOW THEY MADE GHANAIANS SUFFER FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS? CONDONING CORRUPTION TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY ARE PART OF? NDC LOST THE GAME BY THEMSELVES ON SILVER PLATE TO NPP WITHOUT A FIGHT. RESPECT THE GHANAIAN WHO IS MUTE BUT FOCUSED. NPP REPEAT SAME MISTAKE AND THEY WILL ALSO GO LIKE NDC.
Would some politicians sit down and reason with reality? By the next ten years most homes in villages would have sent their children to school to learn how to think and not act like this law maker. What caused the defeat of his party, and where are the solutions and has it been accepted for redress. At times some politicians make us feel they are the only one who can think.YOU PEOPLE HAVE THE PLATFORM NOW AND DON'T ACT LIKE OSTRICHES.
Apuuuu. They lack potential presidential materials in their party. They can force him to contest 10x he lose 10x because he is corrupt and Ghanaians abhors corrupt leaders.
These comments are moronic and it shows a deficiency in thoughts. Wait till you see what unfolds as Ghana demands accountability for your best bet and see if your party will vouch for him. A bunch of losers and delusioned people who have not still appreciated the disdain Ghana has for their rule hence the shameful rejection.