THE People’s National Convention (PNC) has named a 46-year-old businessman, Mr Bannerman Baah Ntim, as the running mate of the party’s flagbearer, Dr Edward Mahama, for this year’s Presidential election.

Mr Ntim, who hails from Abetifi Kwahu in the Eastern Region, is the Managing Director of Ultimate Creators, Ghana Limited, based in Accra.

Dr Mahama disclosed the identity of his running mate at an impressive and well-attended national campaign rally of the party in Tamale at the weekend.

The ceremony attracted all leading members of the party, including some of its parliamentary hopefuls and delegates from the 10 regions.

Dr Mahama, who introduced the vice-presidential candidate, described him as well-composed and hardworking person capable of living up to the task.

He said the nomination of Mr Ntim was not influenced by ethnic or religious consideration. “It was on merit”, he stressed.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ntim thanked the party and flagbearer for the confidence reposed in him and promised to live up to expectation.

He assured them of his preparedness to win more votes for the party.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Mahama observed that the era of President Rawlings and the NDC is gradually coming to an end and stated that the PNC is ready to take over the mantle of leadership of the country.

He noted that change is inevitable in every human endeavour and said for this reason, the country necessarily needs a change.

“Change will come, and the change is PNC”, the flagbearer said.

The crowd was moved into frenzy when the flagbearer said the party will not wait to improve the lot of Ghanaians as envisaged by the NDC Government in its vision 2020, but will do so immediately when it comes to power.

Dr Mahama announced that soon, the PNC will launch a book entitled, “The New Ghanaian” in which the party has chronicled the social and economic life of Ghanaians from the PNDC era to date.

The book wil,l in part, be the manifesto of the PNC as it will depict what the party will offer Ghanaians in the event of winning the December elections.

A leading member of the party, Dr. E. N. Gyader, said politics has been corrupted in the country due to the manner in which some parties are doling out monies to buy the consciousness of some electorate.

He advised the people not to allow themselves to be deceived but to reflect on their current situation and decide on who to give their mandate to.

Dr Gyader said the PNC was happy that the NDC government has eventually accepted suggestions by the party to set up an Education Endowment Fund to help address problems in the sector.

Other speakers who addressed the function were the National Vice-chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Yussif Issa, the National Women’s Organiser, Madam Sabina Langto and the Northern Regional Chairman, Major Mahama Alhassan Jetumah (Rtd).

Eighty six parliamentary candidates of the party were introduced to the electorate.