Collins Owusu Amankwah, former NPP MP for Manhyia North
Former Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah, has appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to officially announce Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (“Napo”) as his running mate.
According to him, an immediate confirmation will allow the party to begin marketing its joint ticket well ahead of the general elections.
Speaking to reporters on Monday night, Hon. Amankwah emphasized that with the party’s internal contests largely concluded, the focus must shift to early, aggressive campaigning across the country.
He stressed that resolving any ambiguity surrounding the vice-presidential candidate is crucial before presenting the ticket to the Ghanaian electorate.
“We have successfully elected our flagbearer and stabilized the party’s grassroots structure, leaving only the national executive elections. We are virtually ready to hit the ground running,” Hon. Amankwah stated.
He added that, “the flagbearer now needs to finalize his choice of running mate so that as we step out into the field, we can confidently present a united ticket to the voters.”
Mitigating Internal Rivalries:
The former lawmaker warned that delay in making an official declaration creates unnecessary division within party ranks.
He noted that several individuals are actively lobbying and maneuvering to catch the flagbearer’s eye, which risks distracting the party from its core objectives.
While acknowledging that personal political ambitions are natural, Hon. Amankwah argued that prolonged speculation over the past year is unhealthy for internal cohesion.
“I strongly appeal to Dr. Bawumia to confirm Napo now so that right after our national elections, we can begin marketing the ticket to the electorate and demonstrate our readiness to govern,” he added.
Reconciliation Strategy:
Highlighting the strategic gains from the party’s recent internal elections, Hon. Amankwah noted that the NPP is uniquely positioned to commence early reconciliation and mobilization drive at the base.
He urged leadership to leverage this window to engage aggrieved party members who may have been sidelined during previous polling station, constituency, or regional contests.
“Our party must capitalize on this momentum, oil the political machine at the grassroots, and reconcile every dissatisfied member as we build a formidable campaign,” Hon. Amankwah concluded.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
