2024 polls: Delay in announcing NPP running mate an unnecessary waste of time — Dr Asah Asante

A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Asah Asante, has weighed in on the delay in announcing the running mate for NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the 2024 elections.

According to him, the party is wasting the time it has to market the person alongside its flagbearer to boost their chances of winning the upcoming polls.

Speaking on Accra-based Starr FM's Morning Starr show with host Francis Abban, the political scientist stressed that the NPP has brought unnecessary pressure upon themselves.

"I think that the NPP is wasting its own time. Because you have elected your flagbearer and the running mate is taking them forever. These decisions are not made in a day; you have done your research and spoken with key members of your party. You have also tried to push it to other political spaces within your party to receive their responses, so what are they waiting for?

"I think it’s an unnecessary waste of time. They should remember that time is not on their side in terms of how many months are left towards the election. You need to get the person right now to come and support the campaign," Dr. Asante advised.

He continued: "The more you delay, the more pressure comes to bear on the situation unnecessarily. Because of this pressure they are going through, it’s unnecessary pressure if you ask me. If you had come out, that would have ended all the noise."

Meanwhile, the party has decided to select the flagbearer from Ashanti region, its stronghold.

There have been several groups within the party that have submitted their preferred choices for the running mate position to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, which many see as adding pressure to his selection decision.