A senior lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kwasi Amakye-Boateng, has warned that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their flagbearer, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, cannot afford to overlook the Ashanti Region when selecting a running mate for the 2024 general elections.
Dr. Amakye-Boateng emphasized the strategic importance of the Ashanti Region, asserting that it would be “suicidal” for Dr. Bawumia, who is from the northern part of Ghana, not to choose a running mate from the south,specifically Ashanti.
“The NPP has lost its grip on the Ashanti Region, and it would be beneficial to select a running mate from there,” he stated, referencing the recent Ejisu by-election as evidence of the party’s waning support in the area.
“Personally, I don’t think the party can ignore this region. The current situation in the party and the unfolding context demand it,” he stated.
Although the NPP’s constitution does not explicitly mandate regional balance in appointing running mates, the party has traditionally sought such balance. Notable examples include Albert Adu Boahen’s selection of Roland Issifu Alhassan from the north, former President John Kufuor’s choice of Aliu Mahama, and President Nana Akufo-Addo’s selection of Dr. Bawumia.
