Don’t yield to external pressures in selecting running mate- COKA to Bawumia
Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, affectionately known as COKA within political circles, has urged Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to stand firm in his selection of a running mate for the upcoming 2024 elections, cautioning him against yielding to.
In a recent statement posted on his Facebook page under the banner “COKA I CARE,” the former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) emphasized the importance of Dr. Bawumia’s autonomy in choosing his running mate.
He highlighted that regardless of the Vice President’s choice, it will undoubtedly face scrutiny from various quarters, both positively and negatively.
COKA drew parallels to past scenarios, notably citing former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s resolute decision in selecting Dr. Bawumia as his running mate in 2008.
He emphasized the necessity for Dr. Bawumia to emulate his boss’s unwavering stance and not succumb to external influences.
“His Excellency, Dr. Bawumia, please ask your boss, Nana Akufo-Addo when it was time for him to select his running mate in 2008 if he had listened to some people in and out of NPP, could we have had improved digitalization and many other achievements spearheaded by Dr. Bawumia office everywhere in Ghana by now?
He stood on his grounds and justified why he wanted Dr. Bawumia to partner him,” COKA asserted.
Furthermore, COKA emphasized the strategic importance of selecting a running mate from the Ashanti Region, dubbing it the “political World Bank” of the party in terms of electoral votes.
He stressed that a candidate from this region must possess popularity and grassroots support, crucial elements for securing victory in the upcoming elections.
“Democracy is about numbers. When you visit social media, marketplaces, churches, when you go to funeral grounds and ask whose name they have been hearing for funeral donations and also ask those around you, it will inform you that 99.9% of the people in Ashanti region are behind one name,” COKA remarked.
While acknowledging that dissenting voices exist within party ranks, COKA underscored overwhelming support for the popular candidate from various party structures, reinforcing the candidate’s suitability for the role.
As the election season approaches, COKA’s advocacy underscores the complexities involved in selecting a running mate and the significance of strategic decision-making in shaping electoral outcomes.
