NPP Running Mate Saga Unfolds: Bawumia Sweats, Adutwum struggles, NAPO, Naa Torshi and Frema on the Edge

The flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Dr Mamoud Bawumia, is having a severe head-ache over who to choose to partner him for the crucial 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Even before the outdooring of a prominent woman of excellence, Professor Nana Jane Opoku Agyeman as the running mate of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) last weekend the camp of the Vice President, has been under intense pressure from suitors whose names have reportedly been penciled down to partner him on his electoral Journey.

With tribal affiliate, monetary considerations, the top mark for the would be candidate, influence peddling and social hyping, has most dominated the strategies of the potentials, whose appetite have been wet by igneous desire by loyalists, choreographing the deep crack in the party ahead of the 2024 battle.

At the forefront of the running mate list are four top appointees of the government, namely Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Energy Minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh (popularly called NAPO) and Director of Common Fund, Irene Naa Torshi Addo.

Also, strongly in the race is the first female Chief of Staff, Frema Opare, whose insatiable desire for power, has been unhidden since her appointment.

And as time runs out for Dr Bawumia to make the choice, so has the candidates intensify their lobbying and in some cases making silly efforts to catch the eyes of the flagbearer.

Enter Adutwum:

The desire of Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, to secure the running mate slot, has sparked controversy, with allegations of tactics, veering towards desperation.

The Bosomtwi Member of Parliament (MP) finds himself in a subdued showdown with his former boss, NAPO, who is now heading the Energy Ministry and two others.

Recent move by the Ministry of Education to introduce new school uniform to basic school students, has been viewed as an attention-grabbing strategyy.

Rather than addressing underlying challenges in the education sector, such as delayed grant payments, insufficient resources, and substandard facilities, the Minister has been championing cosmetic changes without consultation which have been tagged with allegations of corruption

Dr Opoku Prempeh:

The suddenly rich Energy Minister, is reportedly lavishing in unexplained wealth with his affluent lifestyle, giving traces to many corruption allegation hanging on the Energy Ministry and its subsidiaries. He is said to be offering huge financial support for the running mate slot.

With Manhyia, said to be heavily canvassing for him, he wouldn’t have to explain how he acquired his $15million dollar mansion overlooking the capital to many of his party folks, who suspect corruption as the source of his wealth.

The Energy Ministry, has become a major source of stress to the government, including power outage, sale of age old national assets like the Volta River Authority, GRIDCO and ECG

But Dr Bawumia, reportedly have little options left for him in the running mate choice, and may have to overlook all the burgages  of NAPO in order, to make progress in his campaign calendar.

Naa Torshie Addo;

Former Member of Parliament [MP] for Tema West and now the Director of District Assemblies Common Fund, is said to be a preference for President Akufo Addo, whose influence on Dr Bawumia is obvious.

Although, she hardly is a match for the NDC chosen running-mate, should the chip fall on gender for the running mate decision, she is said to have learnt the rope of politics.

Referred as superior with grass-root politics and lobbying, the Common Fund Director, has been shipping social influencers to pilgrimage in Israel and Saudi Arabia with the hope to enhance her chances.

Frema Opare:

The Chief of Staff position comes with a heavy purse and weight, as she is the senior prefect of all the President’s appointees.

Hence, when the chances for the running mate position, has been reduced to money, influence, tribal origin and gender, she is the most qualified.

But Frema, has no appeal beyond her party’s walls, and even within the NPP, she has several critiques who cannot see what she could add to Dr Bawumia’s ticket.

Having served as the first female Chief of staff, she is said to have gained enormous experience in maneuvering tough terrains.

For a party, which is divided in many fronts with others even breaking away, she might come handy in stabilizing the party, as the going gets tough

The heightened competition and reported tension between the contenders, have added an element of uncertainty to the selection process, with financial influence and political maneuvering, playing pivotal roles.

As the selection timeline tightens, all eyes remain on Dr Bawumia, as the potential announcement of his running mate for the upcoming election looms.