You Can’t Be President If You’ve Never Been MP Before – Oti Regional Chairman

The Dean of the NDC Regional Chairmen Caucus has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama’s opponents in the NDC flagbearership race.

Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, also the Oti Regional Chairman, is convinced Mr Mahama is the only deserving candidate among the aspirants.

According to him, it is impossible for any candidate who has not served as a Member of Parliament in his political journey to aspire to be a flagbearer.

“If you have never been MP before, you can’t be a President for NDC. If you want to be an MP and if you want to be a President of Ghana under the NDC, your constituency should give you the green light first, then your region, and after that, you can be endorsed by the party,” he indicated.

He was speaking at the campaign launch of the former president in the Volta Region on Thursday, March 2.

Mr Gyapong believes that if the aspirants want to contest for the presidency on the ticket of the party, they should have proof of winning a constituency election.

“Dr Duffuor, have you won your seat before? Charity begins at home. Have you won it before? Who should do the donkey job for you to become the president of this country?” he questioned.

To Kojo Bonsu, he said, “He is from Offinso. I’m wondering why the Ashantis are so eager to become president when they are not doing their homework well…charity begins at home; go there and win the seats for us before we can think about you”.

He urged the flagbearer hopefuls of the party to rescind their decision to contest for the position and rather channel their resources to winning the Ashanti Region.

“The three of them can win the seat for us. They haven’t thought about how to win Ashanti; they haven’t. Let them go and win the seat for us, then maybe next time. Please, join the queue, and win your constituency and your region. Don’t waste your time,” he stressed.

Mr Mahama has Dr Kwabena Duffour, a former Finance Minister; Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi; and Ernest Kobeah, a 43-year-old businessman based in the United Kingdom, as his contenders.

The campaign is on the theme: ‘Building the Ghana we want together’.

The NDC primaries have been scheduled for May 13, 2023.