The New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has requested an extension of time to consult on his selection of a running mate ahead of the 2024 election.
This was announced by the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, at a press conference in Accra.
It follows a crucial meeting by the NPP’s National Executive Committee and National Council concerning the topic on Wednesday, December 6.
The meeting was called in alignment with the party’s constitutional requirement of selecting a running mate 12 months before a major election if the President is not the candidate.
The extension of time for Dr. Bawumia means the party has suspended the party’s constitutional provision to allow for further consultation.
Speaking at the Alisa Hotel, the General Secretary admitted “Today should have been the day that our leader of the party and presidential candidate should have presented his running mate to the National Council.”
“However, upon request from the presidential candidate that’s because his election was done on the 4th of November 23, he needs a bit of time to continue with his consultation before it brings the proposed name for running mate to the National Council. And this was unanimously agreed by the National Council,” he added.
The Vice President is expected to propose a running mate, whose suitability, in terms of general appeal to the electorate, must be accepted by the meeting.
According to the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, in an earlier interview on JoyNews, the party had generally agreed that the running mate for the newly elected party’s flagbearer would be chosen from the Ashanti Region.
This, the Bekwai MP had said is the only solution to the party winning the 2024 general elections.
Names like Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Energy Minister), Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum (Education Minister), and Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (Majority Leader), who have been rumoured as frontrunners, will be juggling their chances against others like John Ampontuah Kumah, Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Ejisu, and Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, whose names have been making the rounds as well.
There has even been mention of Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.