Richard Etornam Nyarko, the Eastern Regional Youth Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), claims that Julius Debrah, a former chief of staff and minister for local government and rural development, is the ideal candidate to be considered for the position of running mate for Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 Presidential election.
Richard Etornam Nyarko, a youth activist, made the statement just a few days after Julius Debrah clarified that he has not indicated any interest in the job of running mate and that he has no intention of accepting any suggestions for the position.
John Mahama’s running companion was Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, a former minister of education and vice chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and a former minister of education served as John Dramani Mahama’s running mate in the 2020 presidential election, which saw the party lose with 47.36% of the vote to incumbent President Nana Akufo Addo’s 51.30%.
Richard Etornam Nyarko, the Eastern Regional Youth Organizer, however, stated to Starr News on the sidelines of a general meeting of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) at Koforidua Technical University (KTU) on Friday that the youth need a running mate who truly understands the NDC’s ideology and has the welfare of the youth at heart.
“The youth really want to have somebody who thinks like them who stand on their side and so it will certainly not be anybody, but the preferences are clear and we know that certainly President Mahama is promising us that he is coming to create jobs, he is coming because of the youth he is coming to pen down certain revolution mechanisms that will make life a meaningful one for the youth.”
He continued, “So certainly we know that he is going to be ably supported by somebody who thinks like a youth , who stands on the side of the youth somebody that is a politician enough somebody that understands the ideals of the NDC and the concerns of the youth.Yes, we cannot make the decision for President Mahama it is his decision and we believe that with all the assurances he has given to us that he is coming in on the strength of the youth certainly he is going to pick somebody who think like a youth”
Richard Etornam Nyarko said that the youth wing wants Julius Debrah to be the running mate when pressed further by Starr News Eastern regional correspondent Kojo Ansah.
Apart from Julius Debrah’s competency, which is demonstrated by the many roles he has had, he reflects the goals of the youth, therefore picking him as a running mate will inspire the party’s youth and Ghana’s youth in general to win power.
“We have some pictures in our minds and we believe that it will go on the side of the youth.Me as a youth I will be highly inspired if a person like Julius Debrah is mentioned”.
He claimed that the NDC’s records clearly demonstrate that tactical changes in running mates have benefited the NDC’s efforts to win power and that, as a result, the appeal of the youth is not unreasonable.
“There are records to that, in 2000 President Mills of blessed memory brought Martin Amidu, in 2004 was changed with Dr. Mumuni , in 2008 it was President Mahama , there was no repetition of a running mates even though I am not trying to preempt the President but we are only trying to pick our minds and I think that if a new person is appointed as the running mate and the person is already on the grounds is fantastic for the NDC to win.
The Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in New Juaben South,Dr.Martin Otu Offei, a Lecturer at KTU, said the party has over the years demonstrated strong believe in the youth hence given many youth opportunity to serve, however, the party will support anyone appointed running mate for the 2024 Presidential polls.
He assured to support and revive TEIN to become a vibrant pool of human resources for the NDC to capture power.
Various speakers at the KTU TEIN branch General Meeting charged the students to work hard and create awareness about the policies of the NDC.
The speakers believe, Akuffo Addo -Bawumia led government has been monumental failure and disappointment to the youth with unprecedented corruption and incompetence in all sectors of the economy.
Lawyer Isaac Minta Larbi, chairman of the Eastern Regional Legal team of NDC assured the youth that, all legal arsenals will be deployed to combat intimidations and arbitrary arrests by the ruling party before, during and after the elections.
Present at the event were New Juaben South Constituency Chairman Amuzu Selasie , Dr. Samuel Kwabena Ayittah (Patron, TEIN), Comrade Stephen Sawodjie, Comrade Evans Srenyame (Former Youth Organizer, Upper Manya Krobo, and Dennis Akorely, New Juaben. south constituency youth organizer.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Kojo Ansah
