Dr Asa Asante’s Criteria For Running-Mate

Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Asa Asante spells out the criteria for choosing the Running-Mate of a Presidential Candidate as follows:

1. Popularity
2. Appealing to the rank and file of political party
3. Competence
4. Someone who can match other running-mates in quality
5. One who is presidential and can step into the shoes of the substantive president
6. Less or no baggage

He said, in Ghana tactically the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP has to choose a running mate from the Ashanti region or a swing region. He urged the National Democratic Congress, NDC, to pick theirs from the Volta region or a swing region.

The Presidential Candidates of the NPP and NDC are the sitting Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, and former President John Dramani Mahama respectively.