Ricketts Hagan Withdraws From NDC Flag Race

The Cape Coast South Parliamentarian, Kweku Ricketts Hagan has cut short his bid to lead the NDC into the 2020 elections.

According to a statement released by the office of the legislator, there is no need continuing a race that has already been determined.

The MP’s campaign team also stated that when they began the campaign a year ago, the goal was to achieve reforms for the party, built on the principles of probity and accountability and social justice.

“…people who were supporting their conscience flocked to our message and felt the need for the party to move forward but many in the party who are looking for a ‘quick return to power’…were all rooting for one candidate which they feel is ‘well-marketed and well-resourced’ to deliver 2020,” the statement said.

Mr. Hagan’s release added that majority of the delegates they reached out to have chosen a different path despite them giving everything they got.

“We, therefore, did not pick up nomination forms to advance our contest in the flagbearership race scheduled for January 26, 2019, by the National Executive Committee,” part of the released stressed.

“We are confident that our campaign, while unsuccessful, offered the NDC party an alternative by focusing on issues which many think are crucial to the party…,” it added.

The statement also expressed gratitude to all members of the campaign team and the National Executive Committee for “making this opportunity available to us all.”

The former Central Regional Minister becomes the third to officially withdraw from the race after former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, and a lawyer Elikplim Agbemava, who bowed out to support ex-President John Mahama.

Mahama well-marketed candidate?

Despite Ricketts Hagan not stating any name as the well-marketed candidate, Myjoyonline can confirm he is referring to former President Mahama who governance experts have described as the man to beat in the NDC primaries.

Some 94 NDC MPs , former MMDCEs, and some party executives and former executives have backed Mahama for the slot despite his abysmal loss to NPP candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016.

He lost by an unprecedented million votes; setting a record for the first sitting President to fail in a second term bid. He also led the party to set a record for the first time a ruling party was booted out of power in just one round of voting.

---Myjoyonline