Mahama’s successor: Adom-Otchere must ‘shut up’ – Ato Ahwoi

Founding member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ato Ahwoi, has urged political commentator, Paul Adom-Otchere, to ‘shut up’ when it comes to the party’s leadership elections.

Calling into Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Friday morning, the veteran political figure said it was important to allow the party’s process to play out.

He said it was too early to be discussing the NDC’s political future, adding that President John Mahama had barely done nine months in office.

“Mahama has done only nine months of the four years, and I don’t understand why we are going through this thing of trying to select a running mate now, or a flag bearer now. It is not yet time. President Mahama has done only four months, nine months, and we have three and a half more years to go.

“For all I can say, Paul Adom-Otchere, please keep quiet and shut your mouth and let Mahama decide his steps. You never did what you are doing today when the Akufo-Addo government was in power,” he observed.

The political veteran said that the ruling NDC had a way of electing its leaders, which has consistently stood the test of time. The strategy has paid off as the party has got the likes of Professors Mills and Opoku-Agyeman, amidst intense misgivings at the time, he remarked.

“You know very well that NDC, we have a way of doing our own thing. Do you remember that when [President] Atta Mills was selected as running mate by the NDC, as flag bearer by the NDC, nobody thought he was going to get it, but he got it, and he got it.

“The same thing, when people were fighting about who should be the running mate to Mahama all sorts of names were mentioned, but the NDC went and brought Naana Jane, and Naana Jane is now the vice president,” Mr. Ahwoi said.

In recent times, Paul Adom-Otchere has been appearing on the show on Fridays to express views on the topical issues as part of the newspaper review.

Mr. Ahwoi said President John Mahama ought to be allowed to run the country without the distractions of who succeeds him. In his assessment, such conversations were too early.

He insisted that when the time comes for the party to make a decision on who succeeds President Mahama as flag bearer, the party will get it right.