Women of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some leaders kicked against the choice of Hajia Alima Mahama as running mate to then candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the run up to the 2008 general elections, it has been revealed.

Private legal practitioner and and an influential family member of current President Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko who made the revelation on his Facebook page a while ago, stated that the current Minister of Local Government was the first choice for the running mate

“Two powerful women groups: (1) the women caucus in Parliament (2) women organizers of the party. In fact we woke up one morning with two big buses load of Women Organisers across the country parked in front of the candidate’s house in East Legon to lobby him against the choice of the woman. Frankly, it was disheartening and scary. Extremely”, he said.

Read his comments below;

A little uncomfortable history to chew on. Me and my big mouth. When in early 2008, the presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, hinted to the powers within his party that his first choice for running mate was the Minister for Women, Hajia Alima Mahama, the biggest organised opposition came from women, principally, two powerful women groups: (1) the women caucus in Parliament (2) women organizers of the party. In fact we woke up one morning with two big buses load of Women Organisers across the country parked in front of the candidate’s house in East Legon to lobby him against the choice of the woman. Frankly, it was disheartening and scary. Extremely.

In 2014/15, the same presidential candidate put on the party’s agenda how to aggressively ensure that women are selected for winnable seats. But, other pressing intra-party issues at the time derailed that important move. I hope the party will put it back on the table.