NDC Risks Losing 2020 Elections With Mahama As Flagbearer - Political Scientist

The Head of Political Science Department at the University of Ghana has said the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) risks losing the 2020 elections if they present former President Mahama as their candidate.

Dr Asare Bossman said Mr Mahama’s failure to secure his second term bid makes him unlikely to win the 2020 elections. He said the situation will even become dire for Mr Mahama in 2024 if he were to contest and lose the 2020 elections.

“You’ll notice that since we began the fourth republic, anyone who is elected in the first term…will normally go for a second term [except Mr Mahama]. So if NDC brings Mr Mahama and he is not able to win, is he likely he will come in 2024…” Dr Bossman told Joy News ’ Kwesi Parker.

Dr Bossman Asare
He added that the leadership of the party must query the former President on what new strategy he has from what was employed in 2016 when he led the party to an abysmal loss.

“…so if I were an executive in the NDC, the question I will be asking Mahama is that: we know you will win the primaries of the party but what are you going to do differently from 2016,” he said.

Dr Bossman’s comments follow a hint by Mr Mahama that he may run for the presidency on the ticket of the NDC in 2020.

In a Facebook post, Mahama among other things wrote: “…To you the teeming supporters and sympathizers calling and requesting me to declare my intentions for the future, I wish to assure you today, that as a servant-leader, I have listened to your calls and reflected. I will not disappoint you even as we await the publication of the party’s guidelines for selecting a new leader”.

Meanwhile, National Organizer of the NDC Kofi Adams says the party is likely to elect its Flagbearer by end of the year if no amendment is made to the party’s constitution.

“When we have our congress, we will determine whether to amend the constitution or not,” he said.

He however, noted that the party is receiving petitions from various quarters to amend some provisions of the constitution.