Mahama's popularity at the test as the NDC decides today

Saturday, February 23, 2019 Policy

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

2019-02-23

The popularity of former President John Mahama in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be tested today as he faces six other candidates for the party's flag-bearer position ahead of the 2020 elections.

More than 260,000 NDC delegates will vote in 275 constituencies across the country to elect a leader who must win by a simple majority of votes.

Some of the candidates are former members of the former president of the former NDC government, who say they can do better than their boss. Among the aspirants are Sylvester Mensah, former director of the NHIA, Dr. Spio-Gabrah, former Minister of Commerce, Alban Bagbin, former leader of the majority, and Joshua Alabi, former member of the VC.

The election will be supervised by the electoral commission.

Before the elections, Professor Alabi baderted that there were attempts to undermine the process in favor of one of the candidates. Mahama endured such accusations from supporters of other candidates.

He told Starr News on Friday that evidence suggests an attempt to compromise the poll.

"Some of the seals of some of the boxes sent to the constituencies for the polls have been removed, which is a source of concern for us. Again, the example of Prampram where our people noticed that the box seals were broken and we think that our party should be able to go beyond these things in an internal competition, they are not suitable for a free and fair election "said.

Nevertheless, the former Vice Chancellor of UPSA said he was confident of winning the elections.

Former NHIA boss Sylvestre Mensah also said his basket was full and ready for victory despite frustrating attempts by some candidates to win another.

The former Trade Minister, Ekow Spio-Gabrah, also said that the victory was waiting for him tomorrow, the delegates seeing him as the most experienced of the contest.

Political observers estimate that the former president should be able to collect more than 70% of the votes to strengthen his chances in the elections of 2020.