The Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson, has predicted that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will be the 2024 flagbearer of the National Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking to Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning, he explained that Dr Bawumia stands tall among all other persons who may contest.
“If I have to put my last penny down, I think Bawumia will win. The reason why I think that Alan will have difficulty is that I think Alan’s greatest political mistake was not going into Parliament.
“Alan Kyerematen was picked in 2007 when he contested Akufo-Addo for the NPP slot. That was 15 years ago. Since then, he hasn’t been involved in party affairs openly,” he observed.
The pollster added that Dr Bawumia is the favourite of Ghanaians, making it a possibility for him to win the election.
Five names including Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh; the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, and Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, have popped up as potential running mates of Dr Bawumia.
Among these names, Ben Ephson says Energy Minister Dr Opoku Prempeh is likely to be chosen as the running mate.
“I think it’s going to be between the Minister of Energy and the Chief of Staff, but I suspect it’s even the Minister of Energy, it could be – that’s my suspicion.
“But the rest is in Bawumia’s head and the list that the leading members of the party will agree to, but if I have to put my last penny, I’ll put it on the Minister of Energy.”
He applauded Ghanaians for being swing voters, saying there is an expectation of a similar situation in the 2024 general elections.