[ 2017-05-09 ]

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

NDC 2020: I can’t be excluded – Spio
Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has not ruled himself out of
running in the flagbearership contest of the main
opposition National Democratic Congress.

According to him, “everyone could have
leadership potential and I can’t be
excluded”.

In an interview with Radio XYZ, however, the
former Minister of Trade and Industry said it was
premature to discuss such matters since the NDC
needed fixing before a leader is chosen ahead of
the 2020 elections.

“Let’s work together to fix that car first or
the horse that may be lame or whatever allegory
people want to use. Once it is done the best
driver will be decided. At this state it is
early,” he said.

He added that it was important any potential
contestant gave former President John Mahama the
first right of refusal.

“… All of us appointed by Mahama have great
respect for him. We all believe we have to grant
him that opportunity,” Dr Spio-Garbrah said on
Tuesday.

Meanwhile, another potential aspirant, Prof Joshua
Alabi, former Vice Chancellor of the University of
Professional Studies (UPSA), has said if God wants
him to run for president in 2020, he will.

“Our party is reorganising now and we want to
finish the reorganisation. When we finish the
reorganisation, those interested will come out and
I pray to God that God will also give me the
energy, if God thinks I should come out,” he
told Ghanaweb recently.

However, editor-in-chief of the New Crusading
Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jr., has aid the
“leading light” in the main opposition
National Democratic Congress’ race for the 2020
flag bearer slot is former President John Mahama,
who “will scale over” all other potential
contestants.

After the NDC lost the 2016 elections, a few
stalwarts in the party or their assigns, have made
comments and gestures suggesting they will pitch
in the 2020 race.

Apart from Prof Alabi and Mr Spio-Garbrah, the
others include former CEO of the National Health
Insurance Authority (NHIA) Sylvester Mensah,
former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Mr
Goosie Tanoh, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and
Second Deputy Speaker Alban Bagbin.

Former President John Mahama is also speculated to
be garnering steam for a comeback although he has
not expressly said whether or not he will run
again.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanna Tetteh,
who was also speculated to harbour presidential
ambitions, recently said she had never wanted to
be president.

Speaking on Multi TV’s news analysis programme
Newsfile on Saturday, 6 May, Kweku Baako said:
“With all the potential aspirants lining up
within the context of their primaries, I see
nobody as competitive or more competitive than
John Mahama and for good reasons.”

According to him, per the traditions of the NDC,
any aspirant who succeeded in becoming president
always towered above other internal contestants
each time he tried running for a second a time.

In his estimation, although some of the potential
aspirants are heavyweights, none can nudge off Mr
Mahama in an internal contest.

“Mr Bagbin is a formidable political player in
the NDC; look at his long period in parliament and
positions he’s held both in parliament and
outside parliament and it makes him a formidable
contestant. Spio is also somebody you can consider
as credible and things. There are a few names that
I think are in there for comic relief but in terms
of fairness I won’t mention their names …”
he told host Samson Lardy Anyenini.

As far as the Minority Leader is concerned, Mr
Baako said: “He is a fantastic gentleman, young
man but has a lot of sense. I like him a lot and I
think he will do well, he speaks well. … He is
one gentleman I really admire, he speaks well,
look at his level at this stage, Minority Leader
at this stage. That’s big but I don’t think
he’s a ready-made presidential material, he
needs to groom himself, he needs to grow, timing
is critical for somebody like Haruna Iddrisu. If
he makes the move now, I’m not sure he will have
some success. That’s my candid opinion but
otherwise he is a great potential.”

Source - classfmonline.com

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