National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful, Sylvester Mensah, wants the rank and file of the party not to stand in the way of persons seeking to contest for the party’s presidential slot in 2020.
According to Mr. Mensah, party members who show interest should be allowed to speak their minds and express their legitimate views, observing that it forms part of consensus building in deepening democracy.
He believes proposal for President John Mahama to contest the flagbearership race of the NDC unopposed is undemocratic and alien to the constitution of the party.
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Speaking exclusively in an interview on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Monday, Mr Mensah said he believes the situation will only generate anger and frustration in the party.
“It’s not a pleasant situation and it generates anger and frustration and so if at this material time, we expect to see a very united party, smiling into an election with everyone and its opponent smiling at each other then it will sound very artificial and so let’s allow people to contest and allow them to share their views and allow electorates to judge”, he said.
A number of persons, including the Member of Parliament for Nadowli-Kaleo, Alban Bagbin, Ekow Spio Garbrah, and former Rector of the University of Professional Studies, Prof Joshua Alabi, have hinted of their desire to lead the NDC into the 2020 elections.
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Even though , John Mahama has given strong hints that he may try to recapture the Presidency he lost in 2016 to current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr Mensah who is also the former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says although his former boss was a good President when he took over the reins of government from 2010 to 2016, the outcome of the last election sends a strong message about his favourability as a leader.
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“We are at a point of organizing our constituency elections and the heat is still mounting as we move high on the ladder as we get to the Presidential primaries. At this time, we are talking about people campaigning, sharing their views and trying to convince people on why others should be voted and why they should be voted for”, he said.
“My former boss, Mahama, was a good leader but I think it’s time that others like me are given the chance to make their intentions clear,” he said.