The Evening News quotes Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for New Juaben as saying that the issue of ethnicism must be out of the process in selecting a running mate for Mr. J.A. Kufuor, the presidential candidate of the party.

Mr. Owusu Agyemang, in an interview with the paper, is reported as saying that the potential NPP vice presidential candidate should be someone capable of standing in the shoes of the president, since the position is the heart-beat of the president.

The MP stated that charisma, competence and resourcefulness would be the viable elements for the selection of the party's running mate.

"The person must be one who gets on well with the presidential candidate and must be seen to bring something to the ticket by being a crowd puller and resourceful." The Evening News quoted.

Mr. Owusu Agyeman stated that the occupant to the number two slot needs to be a team player, adding that, "he should be someone who will unite this nation and bring coherence by putting Ghana first."