Former Vice-President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has dismissed assertions that he is lacing up his boots to run for the presidential candidate slot of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to the former vice-president, that ambition is not on his table, adding that his focus is to rather help the NDC heal fully and prepare to take power in the 2020 elections.

This comes on the heels of speculations that the former Bank of Ghana Governor was gearing up to stand for the flagbearer slot as there have been several calls on social media supporting his alleged ambition.

Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM's Emefa Apawu on Monday, 12 February 2018, Mr Amissah-Arthur said: “I don’t have that kind of ambition, I'm saying that I’m available to be used by the party in whatever way they deem, so, I’m available, but there’s too much emphasis on the leader and so on. Look, we are going through a reorganisation, if we select a leader now, the people who are dissatisfied will undermine them, let’s put our leadership hopes, aspirations aside, let’s organise this thing very well, whoever comes will have a big party supporting him.”

When asked why he would not heed the call of his party members to lead the party, he urged the media to leave the NDC to reorganise. He also denied being behind those advocating he contest for the flagbearership position.

He stated that a lot of organisation is needed for somebody to become flagbearer and at the right time, people will come up to be voted for.

“No, I'm not behind it, I'm definitely not behind it but I'm saying there are people who sit in their rooms and they come up with artwork and so on. A lot of organisation is needed for somebody to become a leader, and, so, I’m saying that we are not there yet. When the time comes, people will come up naturally and they will be voted for. We won’t cross the bridge until we get to it. So, when we get to it, then whatever it is will happen,” he stated.

Mr Amissah-Arthur also added that it is not automatic that he would become John Mahama’s running mate and for him it is not a done deal. “It’s a choice he [John Mahama] has to make, it’s a choice I have to make whether I’ll accept, given what I want to do with my life whether I want to do this thing again so it’s not a done deal.

“At any point, in an election campaign you have to decide who the best person to join whoever has been elected the president is, for all kinds of reasons, for balancing the ticket, for the critical problems that they face, who he thinks can help him and so on, I don’t think it is natural that I’ll go again as vice president.”