Give Us An Ashanti Running Mate And We'll Reward You Handsomely ― Kumasi Youth Tells NDC

The issue of a Running Mate for the opposition NDC is back on the front burner with a group calling itself the Ashanti Youth in Kumasi and the Diaspora (AYKaD) asking the NDC to look towards the Ashanti Region for John Mahama's partner if the party is serious about winning the December elections.

The group argues that since the ruling NPP is going to the 2020 polls with the same Nana-Bawumia ticket, the opposition NDC must follow that footpath and give them Ashanti as a Running Mate in exchange for overwhelming votes from the youth.

In a statement signed by the Convenor, Kofi Osei Agyemang, the last time the Youth went all out for NDC was in 1996, when President J.J Rawlings recorded a whopping 32% of total votes cast in Ashanti Region.

"At the time we had the wife of Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (who is an Ashanti) as the first lady and the late P.V Obeng at the top level of Government.

"This shows that we Ashantis don't hate the NDC, we love to see our people represented at the top level or playing key roles in the Party so we can also feel belonged," he intimated.

This comes weeks after the former President John Dramani said he has a firm grip on who will partner him as a running mate for the December elections.

Speaking during his second live Digital Conversation, the former President however indicated that, it is not ideal to name a Running Mate when the country is still battling COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though few names have crisscrossed certain quarters within the corridors of the NDC including Ghana's longest-serving Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, others still hold the belief that the party maybe looking towards Ashanti Region.

In an interview with ABC News earlier in the year, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Victor Smith hinted that the former President, now flagbearer of the NDC was likely to announce an Akan as his Running Mate.

AYKaD stressed, "if the NDC wants the massive support of Ashantis to dethrone this current treacherous Akyem clanship going on, they know exactly what to do...give us the number two position and we shall go all out for the NDC."

Read full statement below:

ASHANTI YOUTH IN KUMASI AND THE DIASPORA-AYKaD

PRESS STATEMENT

GIVE US AN ASHANTI RUNNING MATE AND WE WILL REWARD YOU HANDSOMELY-AYKaD TO NDC

The Ashanti Youth in Kumasi and the Diaspora is a network of Youth Groups comprising of young vibrant men and women with predominant Ashanti roots who either living in Ghana or Abroad.

Our key interest has always been to promote issues affecting the young people of Ashanti and the needs of the Ashanti Community general in general.

We have keenly observed the Political terrain in the Country for some time and come to the realisation that after the era of President Kuffuor(which Ashantis were fairly represented), Ashantis have mostly been neglected at the top level by the two main Political Parties and this has trickled down to the bottom bringing undue hardship on the youth as it is extremely difficult to find Ashantis at top levels of Government for any form of assistance or support.

For instance, this current NPP Government even with Ashanti Region as its stronghold has created very little opportunities for Ashantis and given all the juicy appointments and contracts to their Akyem cohorts.

The previous NDC Government under John Mahama also had only one Ashanti as a Cabinet Minister and very little opportunities for Ashanti businessmen.

Considering how Ashanti is to the geopolitical mix of this country and how important Ashanti is to the two main Parties(as far winning an election is concerned), we believe the time has come for Ashantis to be represented at the highest of Government as well.

Now since the NPP seem to be going to the 2020 polls with the same Nana-Bawumiah ticket, we are appealing to the NDC to give us an Ashanti as a Running Mate and we shall reward them handsomely with overwhelming votes from the youth.

Remember the last time the Youth went all out for NDC was in 1996, when President J.J Rawlings recorded a whopping 32% of total votes cast in Ashanti Region.

At the time we had the wife of Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (who is an Ashanti) as the first lady and the late P.V Obeng at the top level of Government.

This shows that we Ashantis don't hate the NDC, we love to see our people represented at the top level or playing key roles in the Party so we can also feel belonged.

If Rawlings with all the negative publicity in Kumasi was able to secure 32% of Ashanti Votes in 1996, how much more affable John Mahama with all the huge infrastructural projects he has done in the Region?

At this juncture, all we are saying is if the NDC wants the massive support of Ashantis to dethrone this current treacherous Akyem clanship going on, they know exactly what to do...give us the number two position and we shall go all out for the NDC.

Our notice is well served!

Signed

Kofi Osei Agyemang

Diaspora Leader/Convenor