The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, also known as General Mosquito, has disclosed his interest in becoming the running mate of John Mahama in the 2020 presidential election.
General Mosquito made this known in an interview with Serwa Armihere on GHOne TV.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said he will be ready to take on the responsibility of a running mate if the flagbearer and the party decided to choose him.
“Yes, it is not about my interest. I’m interested in getting the NDC to win the elections if in the opinion of the party they think that I should carry that mantle I’m ready for it but beyond that, I don’t think that the way people look at political positions as things that ought to be enjoyed, I don’t look at political positions like that. I see positions as a responsibility so if you asking me whether I’m prepared to carry that responsibility I say yes I’m prepared to carry that responsibility.”
“But beyond that, I’m not campaigning to be running mate because it does not take a campaign to be a running mate, it is the decision of the flagbearer supported by Council of Elders and National Executive Committee that is why you haven’t seen me going anywhere telling people that I want to be running mate and this is my campaign team and my message.”
There have concerns from a section of the Ghanaian public for the flagbearer for the NDC, John Mahama to name a running mate.
But the flagbearer said this is not ideal time to do so due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Mahama was elected flagbearer of the NDC in 2019 but with just some months to the December elections, he is yet to pick his running mate.
In a Facebook live broadcast on COVID-19, Mr Mahama answering a question on his running mate said this is not the ideal time to do so, and he and the party will name and outdoor the running mate at the appropriate time.
“I have a fair idea who my running mate is, we are not late in naming my running mate, what is the use of naming the person in the midst of COVID, we can’t outdoor him/her now as we are all fighting COVID-19, so at the appropriate time we will do that. But I can assure you he will be someone that will help to transform this nation when I become President come January 2021”.
Last month Mahama had to deny reports that he had appointed Professor Kwesi Botchwey as his running mate for the 2020 general elections.
Mr Botchwey has been strongly tipped to become the running mate to John Mahama.
Several names have been mentioned as favourites for the position.
Key names such as Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Kwesi Ahwoi, Prof John Gatsi, Nii Okoi Dsane, Alex Mould, Dr Zanetor Rawlingsare some of the names that have prominently come out for the running mate position.