Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, the 65-year-old veteran politician, who contested the December 2000 general election as running mate to the presidential candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), said in Tamale on Tuesday that he has no intention of quitting active politics. Alhaji Mahama, a legal practitioner, started his political career at the age of 33 as a Member of Parliament for Tamale in 1969, during the Second Republic.

Earlier in 1966, he was appointed Commissioner for Information by the NLC regime that overthrew the first republican regime.

"I have not yet achieved my political ambition of being the Chief Executive of this country. "I will therefore offer myself as the flag bearer of the CPP to contest the 2004 general election", he said.

Alhaji Mahama was the running mate to Lt.-General Emmanuel Erskine to contest the 1992 general election under the defunct Peoples Heritage Party (PHP).

In 1996, he lost the presidential slot of the People's Convention Party (PCP) to former Vice President Kow Nkensen Arkaah. Alhaji Mahama said "the only time I will say good-bye to politics is when I am no longer fit to serve my nation".

He said he will not decline any appointment the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will offer him so far as he can play an advisory role or in line with his political preference.

Alhaji Mahama expressed optimism that the CPP will re-organise as a formidable party to make the desired impact in the next general election.

"The way forward is to open offices throughout the country, put in place constituency executives and place at their disposal the necessary logistics to work with". He blamed the poor performance of the party in the recent general election on internal differences.

Alhaji Mahama commended the NPP for the able manner it has managed the affairs of the nation in just over two weeks.

He said the new government has the right calibre of people to transform the country and he will be surprised if they fail to achieve the national goals.

Alhaji Mahama said it would take the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a long time to stage a political come back.

He said there are a number of discredited people within the party and until they leave the scene, NDC will never recover from the December 2000 electoral defeat.