Kofi Bentil
Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Kofi Bentil, has endorsed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be the next president of the country.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia is a better option to lead the country than former President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr. Bentil, speaking on a news programme, pointed out that when evaluating the track records of both presidential candidates, whether in terms of corruption or transformational leadership, any measure applied against Dr. Bawumia would also be a failure for Mr. Mahama.
He noted that Ghanaians have been presented with a choice between Dr. Bawumia and Mr. Mahama for the presidency.
Mr. Bentil emphasised that he was among those who took to the streets, spoke at demonstrations and effectively mobilised support for the New Patriotic Party to come into power, however, he stressed that he is unhappy at their mismanagement of the country.
But despite his anger at the NPP’s mismanagement, the Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa stated that he has reflected on the options available and concluded that considering every measure, Dr. Bawumia appeared to be a better choice.
“He [Mahama] has been a president, he has been a vice president and the track record is there, whether it’s corruption, whether it’s transformational leadership, whatever it is, and when I looked at all of that, I came to the conclusion that we are better off picking Vice President Bawumia and giving him a chance, at the least, let’s give him a fair hearing, let us hear the man and listen to what he has for this country.
“All of that together forced me to make that endorsement not to his person but in the calculation that it is better for this country even if we are going to make a mistake going forward,” he said.
Mr. Bentil also stated that Mr. Mahama has already been given a chance as president, and the result is known, stressing that Dr. Bawumia has not been tried as president and should be given the opportunity.
Mr. Bentil further argued that individuals are not selected based on their wrong experiences but rather on their demonstrated capabilities to perform the job successfully.
“We gave you the chance and you failed so you are out. We pick people who have shown you certain tendency to do well, and then you analyse them, which is what I did. I said this, Vice President Bawumia has been vice president and has not been corrupt, that’s a fact. It is not for a lack of opportunity,” he stressed.
A Daily Guide Report