Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako Jnr has cautioned the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against changing its flagbearer for the next general elections.
The New Crusading Guide newspaper Editor-in-Chief says although many names have been suggested as a replacement for former President John Mahama on the ticket of the NDC in 2020, none of them, in his view, stands the chance of clinching a victory for the party.
“Honestly if I look at all the names coming up I still don’t see any of them more competitive…none of them is as competitive as John Mahama,” he said on Joy FM/Multi TV news analysis programme, Newsfile, on Saturday.
Kwaku Baako Jnr
The opposition NDC is currently battling a possible destructive watershed period following the 2016 trouncing by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Internal disputes over the cause of the loss that appeared to have come on the blind of the party have resulted in a fact-finding committee led by party stalwart and a former Finance Minister, Prof Kwesi Botchwey.
While one faction blames John Mahama and his close-knit circle of appointees for causing the defeat, others have pointed accusing fingers at party founder Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
Others still think that the non-involvement of the Rawlingses in the affairs of the party is working against the party’s fortunes and have moved to bring them on board ahead of 2020.
However, before Prof Botchwey completes his task of finding the actual cause of the 2016 defeat, there have been proposals for the former President to removed.
Last year, NDC-affiliate Al-Hajj newspaper reported that as many as 25 names have been proposed as John Mahama’s possible replacement in 2020 and 2024.
According to the newspaper, these presidential candidate hopefuls have started “preparing grounds for the eventual ascension” as flagbearer of NDC when John Mahama retires.
Top on the list is Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and former Trade Minister, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbarah.
Other names include break way National Reform Party (NRP) leader, Goosie Tanoh; former MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Joshua Alabi.
However, Mr Baako, a veteran journalist, thinks the agitation to sideline John Mahama in the next election due to the 2016 defeat is premature.
“They should wait for the Kwasi Botchwey report,” he advised, suggesting that the report will show if John Mahama is a bad candidate for the NDC in 2020.