Tamale, April 18, GNA - Some residents in the Tamale Metropolis have added their voice to calls to nominate Alhaji Mohammed N. D. Jawula, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, as the running mate of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the NPP flag-bearer, in the December general election.

They described Alhaji Jawula as "a very competent gentleman and a strategist", who could sway the floating voters from the NDC and the other political arties.

Speaking to the GNA in separate interviews in Tamale on Thursday about the choice of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mr. Albert Atutiga, a former Northern Regional chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP) described Alhaji Jawula as "a perfect Presidential running-mate" for the NPP if it wanted to make a greater impact in the impending elections.

"I support all those who are calling on the NPP flag-bearer to nominate the Lepowura as Vice-Presidential candidate for the December polls because I worked with him at Gambaga in the early 70's and I know his capabilities," he said.

Mr Atutiga said though he was not a member of the NPP he preferred the choice of Alhaji Jawula to the rest of the names that had cropped up and appealed to Nana Akufo-Addo not to underestimate any call to nominate Alhaji Jawula.

He said all the names that had so far emerged for consideration were good but Alhaji Jawula's stood tall because of his popularity in the sports arena where the youth and the Muslim folk could rally behind the party for the needed victory.

Mr. Timothy Tia Jabuney, an Accountant, described Alhaji Jawula as "a unifier and a perfect team leader" who would not only galvanise voter support from the Northern Region alone but also from the Zongo communities all over the country due to his Muslim background.

He said Alhaji Jawula's handling of affairs at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as its chairman had won the hearts of many football lovers and could do the same to help the NPP retain power in December. Mr. Alhassan Musah, Programmes Manager of the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), an NGO, said Alhaji Jawula had the development of the North at heart and could use his long experience at the civil service to draw many people to the NPP.

He said Alhaji Jawula had a good rapport with all the opposition political parties and the ordinary man on the streets, which asset could help catapult the NPP to a big electoral victory in December. Those who spoke to the GNA on conditions of anonymity indicated that the Lepowura did not belong to any chieftaincy gate in Dagbon that could create doubts in the minds of many particularly, the Dagombas, and this could work in the favour of the NPP if he was chosen as the running mate.