The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker has advised former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu to rescind his decision to contest the flag bearer race of the party since, in his view, Mr Bonsu is not a presidential material.

The former Kumasi mayor recently declared his intentions to contest in the race.

He firmed up that decision on Monday, 1 October 2018 when he formally informed the party via a letter.

Last week, Mr Bonsu paid a courtesy call on former President Jerry John Rawlings to inform him of his intention and to also seek his blessing, just as most of the aspirants to the flag bearer slot had done.

Mr Rawlings tweeted on Friday, 28 September: “I received @KOJOBONSU10 and his team today. I wished him well. He has a determined spirit. #KojoBonsu2020”.

Mr Bonsu joins a raft of aspirants including former President John Mahama, former Minister of Trade and Industries Ekow Spio-Garbrah, former Greater Accra Regional Minister Prof Joshua Alabi, former CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority Sylvester Mensah, former Central Regional Minister Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, former aide to Mr Rawlings Goosie Tanoh, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, legal practitioner Elikplim Agbemava, businessman Nurudeen Iddrisu and Handyman Stephen Atubiga.

The party will elect a flag bearer in December.

However, speaking on Accra-based Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, 1 October 2018, Mr Coker said: “Let me advise Kojo Bonsu: He’s a very good friend from football circles; this country is a serious country and we must be serious, Ghana is not cheap and the way we are doing things in this country, sometimes we belittle this country. The fact that you have been a KMA mayor does not qualify you to say you want to be president of Ghana, Jesus Christ! Let’s cry out loud, let’s be serious, the world is watching”.

Mr Ade Coker advised Mr Bonsu to “go and sleep somewhere please”, adding: “We sit here, every Tom, Dick and Harry gets up and wants to be what… If your ribs are not strong you don’t go and take punches or else it will break.”