General News of Friday, 5 December 2014

Source: The Insight

NDC Elections: Who is President Mahama supporting?

Who is President John Dramani Mahama supporting in the contest for the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)?

This is the question on many lips as the date of the congress of the governing party draws close. So far many candidates and their supporters have claimed presidential support and the rumour mill has also been exceedingly active about the choices of the President at the congress scheduled for December 22.

For the race for the chairmanship of the party, two names have come up as the choices of the President. These are Alhaji Huudu Yahaya who happens to be the brother-in-law of the President and Kofi Kportuphy, boss of NADMO and sitting vice chairman of the party.

It is strange how the President can sponsor two persons for the same position in an election which is so hotly contested.

Even though there are rumours that the President is not very comfortable with the candidature of Asiedu Nketia as General Secretary, the overwhelming popularity of the candidate makes it unwise to sponsor anybody against him.

There are also very strong suggestions that the Presidency is behind the candidature of Mr. Kofi Adams who wants to unseat the current National Organizer, Yaw Boateng Gyan.

For the position of National Treasure, the claim is that the presidency prefers the incumbent Kamal who is working in the same team as Kofi Kportuphy and Kofi Adams.

Perhaps realizing the damage that these rumours can do, the Presidency has made it clear that President John Mahama is not supporting any of the candidates.

An official at the Flagstaff House, told the Insight newspaper, that as a leader of the party, the president’s only interest is that the elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

“The president can work with anybody who is elected properly to fill any position in the party,” the official said.