General News of Tuesday, 5 September 2000

Source: -

NPP to Come out with Running Mate on Saturday

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will announce its presidential running mate on Saturday, September 9.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the party indicated that the party would make public the name of the vice presidential candidate after an emergency national delegate’s conference at the Mawuko Girls' Secondary School Assembly Hall in the Volta Regional capital, Ho. Asked whether the party will also choose a Northerner as has been done by the other parties, the General Secretary said the choice is left with the flag bearer. He, however, said in choosing a running mate ethnicity cannot be ruled out, since in African politics, "regional balance" means "ethnic balance".

Mr Botwe described as normal the choice by the NDC of Mr Martin Amidu, Deputy Attorney General as Professor John Atta Mills' running mate, saying it poses no threat to the NPP's chances of winning the December elections. "I do not think anybody can begrudge him (Vice President Mills) for coming out with his running mate, but come December 7, Ghanaians are going to vote for the NPP, because it will present a better team to manage the country," the General Secretary stated.