General News of Monday, 14 January 2008

Source: Nii Kwaku Osabutey ANNY

Vice President Kennedy Adjepong?

... Nana Akuffo Addo ?promises? Kennedy Adjepong the slot

Amidst the dropping of names of potential and suitable running mates to the ruling NPP?s presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, available information suggests that the former foreign minister promised MP for Assin North Kennedy Adjepong that he will appoint him his running mate.

While the information started making rounds at the NPP Delegates Congress, shortly after it became apparent that Nana Akuffo Addo was going to win the polls, Gabby Otchere-Darko, a member of the Akuffo Addo team says there?s no truth in the claims.

Gabby told the dailyEXPRESS that he is unaware of the said promise although his name has come up as a likely running mate.

A senior party official told the dailyEXPRESS at the Congress grounds at Legon that it will be interesting to hear the newly elected candidate confirming the promise. According to him, the party executives and elders will not agree to Mr. Adjepong?s nomination.

dailyEXPRESS learnt that the promise was made to Mr. Adjepong who owns Ghana?s latest media empire- Net 2, Oman FM and National Agenda newspaper- when he speedily joined the Nana Akuffo Addo campaign.

Staff at his Madina office told the dailyEXPRESS that talk of the running mate promise to their boss was rife prior to the congress, adding that he ?event cut short a trip to South Africa to put Nana?s program back on track in the Central region.?

According to another staff, they are convinced that their boss? support both emotionally and financial could be informed by the running mate promise, but agreed that it will be a tall order for the party to accept.

Gabby Otchere-Darko however insists that the issue of a promise is ?news to me.? ?The priority is to get campaign running while at the same time ensure that most Ghanaians get registered for the elections? he added.

He noted however that Kennedy Adjepong?s name has come up for consideration together with long time NDC official Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and lately Boniface Abubarkar Saddique and Hajia Mahama.

Gabby adds that he will personally not expect Nana Akuffo Addo to pick a running mate within the first quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, some persons have begun campaigning for a Ga Adangbe running mate and pitching for defeated aspirant Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.