How can you be president if you are afraid to choose a running mate? — Former NPP MP to Bawumia

Edward Michael Ennin, a former NPP Member of Parliament has accused Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of lacking the boldness needed to be President.

The former lawmaker says the ruling party’s flagbearer appears afraid to choose his preferred running mate ahead of the December 7 polls.

Mr. Ennin, who was the MP for Obuasi East, told Accra-based Onua FM on Friday, June 21, while reacting on why Dr Bawumia is yet to openly decide on who he wants as his running mate ahead of the 2024 elections, after being elected flagbearer of the NPP since November last year.

He alleged that Bawumia’s preferred choice is being kicked against by some senior party officials at the Jubilee House which has accounted for his delay in naming his running mate.

"What amazes me is that former President Kuffour clearly and openly chose his running mate, and so did Akufo-Addo. Now it is Dr. Bawumia’s time to decide who he wants, and the information that keeps reaching us is that people in the Jubilee House do not like the candidate Dr. Bawumia prefers,” Ennin remarked.

“If you are a flagbearer of a major party like the NPP and you’re being frightened to choose the running mate you like, then how can he be president? He doesn’t have the boldness to be president. Is he not a man? The constitution has given him the right to choose, is he not man enough to?” he asked.

The leading candidates for the NPP running mate position, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, both hail from the Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the party.

Ennin noted that choosing between the two candidates would anger supporters of the other, complicating Dr Bawumia's decision.

“If he settles to choose NAPO, the supporters of Adutwum will be unsatisfied with that decision, and vice-versa. There is no way to bring the two together,” he said.