Former President John Dramani Mahama has been beseeched by Regional Chairmen of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest the 2020 presidential election on the ticket of the party.
A statement signed by the ten Regional Chairmen and issued on Thursday said their call is in tune with the wish of many in the country.
“[We have] called on HE John Dramani Mahama to consider the request of teeming supporters of the NDC and Ghanaians to lead the party to the 2020 General Elections”, the statement said.
The Regional Chairmen came into this conclusion after a meeting held with the former president on Thursday November 09, 2017, in Cantonments, Accra.
It is not clear if the former president would accept the challenge to lead the party again after he, then incumbent, trailed winner of the last elections with about one million votes difference.
At least four heavy weights in the party have also expressed interest in the NDC flagbearership including Joshua Alabi, Ekwow Spio Gabrah and Sylvester Mensah.
Meanwhile, the ten chairpersons also asked Mr. Mahama who lost the 2016 presidential election to President Akufo-Addo to embark on a nationwide tour to appreciate his supporters.
“[They] invited the former President to, as a matter of urgency, embark on the delayed and much awaited ‘Thank You Tour’ to thank supporters of the NDC for supporting him through his tenure and the party over the years.”
The statement was signed by each of the regional chairmen: Greater Accra, Central Region, Ashanti Region, Eastern Region, Volta Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Northern Region, and Western Region.
Greater Regional Chairman of the NDC, Joseph Ade Coker told TV3 the former president was asked to accept the offer “in their capacity as regional chairmen” based on sentiment of grassroots supporters.
The move does not bar others from contesting the former president, he explained, “we are not putting our weight behind anybody [for now but just urging him to consider the proposal]”, he said.
Mr. Ade Coker disagreed the call by his colleagues would derail the unity and reorganisation exercise embarked upon by the party.
By Isaac Essel |3news.com | Ghana