NDC Primaries: Mahama says incumbent MPs who lost their bids for reelection are still heroes
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged current lawmakers and candidates who came in second in the primary to help the party’s campaign in the run-up to the 2024 election.
If the party is elected to power, he claims that the skills and resources of these people will be necessary to manage the nation’s problems.
The newly chosen flagbearer of the NDC referred to the expelled MPs as heroes in his acceptance address, which he gave at the University for Development Studies, Tamale Campus.
A total of 16 MPs were defeated in the party’s internal elections on Saturday, May 13. As a result, they will not be able to represent their constituency in the next 2024 elections.
A.B.A. Fuseini, the Sagnarigu MP, was defeated by newcomer Attah Issah, who received 801 votes to Fuseini’s 330.
Maxwell Kwame Lukutor won the position that had been held by South Tongu MP Wisdom Kobena Woyome.
Sebastian Fred Deh defeated Dela Sowah, the sitting MP in Kpando, while Emmanuel Kwaku Boam defeated Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the sitting MP in Pru East.
Again, Mustapha Amadu Tanko, the MP for Bia West, defeated Augustine Tawiah for the position, while Charles Bawaduah, the MP for Bongo, defeated Edward Bawa for the position as well.
The MPs for Navrongo Sampson Tangombu Chiragia and Afadzato South Angela Alorwu-Tay both fell short in their campaigns against Simon Akibange Aworigo and Frank Afriyie, respectively.
The flagbearer thanked the departing lawmakers, but added, “As we work to win the 2024 elections and alter the course of Ghana’s suffering populace, the party depends on you, and we will continue to do so.”
To continue being committed to the people, he implored the MPs.
Keep your heads up, incumbent lawmakers who lost their primary elections. Because of the excellent work you have done and are still doing for our party and country, you continue to be a hero. When the good people of Ghana grant us a mandate to once again run our country’s affairs, we will need your expertise and skills to handle the difficult work that lies ahead.
Above all, we depend on you to fulfil your obligations in the final 1.5 years of your parliamentary term with commitment and determination to protect the interests of the Ghanaian people. I want to get together with you as soon as possible,” he insisted.
Background
To lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the 2024 presidential election, former president John Mahama has once more garnered the support of party delegates.
Following the conclusion of the NDC primaries on Saturday, the Electoral Commission (EC) certified results that Mr. Mahama received 297,603 votes, or 98.9% of all legitimate ballots cast.
The former mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, finished in second place with a meagre 3,181 votes, or 1.1% of the vote.
Kwabena Duffour, a former Finance Minister under the Mills administration, was the other candidate for the NDC flagbearership but withdrew on Friday.
The NDC will be led into an election by John Mahama for the fourth time.