The Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has said that the election of Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 elections is a shot in the foot by the party.
Speaking on the ‘Big Issue’ on TV3, on Tuesday November 7, 2023, he said the choice of Dr Bawumia is an indication that the party “has decided to go into a gun fight with a knife.”
Edudzi Tamakloe noted that Vice President Dr. Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo are no different when it comes to governance.
“Now if you look at the two – the Siamese twins – where Akufo-Addo is Bawumia and Bawumia is Akufo-Addo, you can see that the vehicle in which they are, they are driving right into a ditch,” Lawyer Tamakloe told host Roland Walker.
He noted that “as for Akufo-Addo and the things that he said after the declaration, it speaks to a man who is paranoid, a man who is afraid of his own shadows. He is afraid of accountability and so the only person that he believes can cover up his sins is Bawumia”.
The Director of Legal said the NDC will not be complacent despite the shortcomings of the ruling party.
“For us, we are resolved to pitch for every single vote as far as the 2024 election is concerned, and we have resolved that there wouldn’t be anything like complacency and we take every threat coming from the NPP with everything that matter to us,” Mr. Tamakloe stressed.
Meanwhile, the former NPP MP for Okaikwei North constituency, Fuseini Issah who was on the show with Mr. Edudzi Tamakloe said the percentage of votes secured by Dr. Bawumia, gives an indication that he is the best choice.
He affirmed that the NPP is resolved to win the 2024 Presidential elections, disproving claims by Mr Edudzi Tamakloe.
He said “this is probably the biggest margin that a first timer has chalked. We are still getting ready for elections 2024 and we are leaving no stone unturned. We are going through the processes as prescribed by the constitution of our party and so far, so good”.
Inusah Fuseini added that the turnout (93%) for the presidential primaries is an indication that the party is united for victory.
“I think that the victory is for the New Patriotic Party and for Ghana”. Mr. Issah argued.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Saturday, November 4, 2023 won the presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after being officially declared winner by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC).
He polled a total of 118,210 votes representing 61.47 percent out of 193,346 to become the winner while his closest contender, Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, polled a total of 71,996 votes, representing 37.41 percent to come second.
Former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh both polled 1,459, representing 0.76 percent and 781, representing 0.41 percent respectively.
By Job Kwabena Laboja