By: Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
With twenty-three months left for Ghanaians to go to the polls to elect representatives of the various constituencies into Parliament and also elect a President for the country, Ghanaians are faced with the daunting task of sifting through the many aspiring presidential candidates for the two big political parties; the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Lots of names have come up as possible candidates to run on the presidential tickets for both parties. Some are well known and have been anticipated for a long time, and many see it as nothing new or shocking, while others have pulled the shock plugs with their intentions.
We take a sneak peek into the big wigs heading up the race in the bid to become presidential candidates come 2024 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
In the ruling NPP, the name of former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen appearing in the race for presidential candidature does not come as a surprise and this is due to his past involvement in the run for a presidential candidate against the current President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Popularly known as “Alan Cash ” in the political arena, he comes as one known for his intentions and drives for presidency and leader of the NPP. Alan Kyerematen resigned as Minister in Charge of Ghana’s trade and industries on January 5, 2023 to begin and concentrate on his presidential candidature journey.
Following Alan Kyerematen’s resignation, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Ghana’s Minister of Agriculture, is also rumoured to have resigned in order to run for president on the NPP ticket. Dr. Akoto’s name comes up bearing a little surprise in the minds of people outside the NPP fraternity but within the circles of the party, it was a creeping headline until his resignation. This might be his first-time contesting but lots of Ghanaians have tipped him to give the race a very ‘fierce face’.
The fight and idea to ‘break the eight’ as the NPP has been chanting, come as a horse being ridden by the current Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Though he has not publicly declared his intentions, one needs not to be told as he has enjoyed the seat of a vice president for six years and just an inch far from the main presidential seat. He comes with a bit of experience in the political arena, having resigned from the post of deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana to be the running mate of President Akufo-Addo in 2008 and currently the Vice President.
The announcement of Kennedy Ohene Agyepong, a maverick businessman and current member of Parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region, comes as a surprise. Springing ahead in terms of campaigning, the business mogul has billboards and posters spotted at vantage points in the capital, Accra, and across the regions of Ghana. Over the years, he has been an ardent critic of the Akufo-Addo government and many are of believe that, that has inspired his intention to run for candidature in order to become the president of Ghana.
