George Boateng in a pose after the interview at DAILY GUIDE’s office in Accra
George Boateng, a loyalist of former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, has declared his intention to contest for the flagbearship position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 presidential election.
He said that ex-President John Mahama, who recently declared his candidature, is not suitable to lead the NDC in 2020.
Mr. Boateng, an NDC executive member at Oyarifa in the Madina Constituency of the Greater Accra Region, made this known in an interview with DAILY GUIDE on Monday May 21, this year on happenings in the opposition party.
“I have made my intention known to the grassroots members of NDC. I am ready to win the flagbearership position to lead the party,” he told the paper.
“This time round I want everybody to know that I am the one that can lead the party.”
Mr. Boateng, who was prevented from contesting then President Mahama for the NDC’s presidential slot in 2015, also accused former President Mahama of corruption.
“Incompetent Mr Mahama cannot be entrusted with the NDC’s top job, let alone lead Ghana again. So he cannot come back to lead our party. This is the time we need someone whose hands are clean.”
According to Mr Boateng, about two months ago, some executives of the NDC met to discuss the possibility of pleading with Mrs Rawlings to rejoin the party her husband founded.
He said when Mr Mahama was informed about the move, he (Mahama) opposed it due to the fear that Mrs Rawlings might return to claim ownership of the NDC.
“Mr Mahama is buying his way through the party to forcefully become the party’s flagbearer for 2020 even though it’s clear that he cannot give the party any victory,” he alleged.
“After President Mahama started the so-called Unity Walk, which came to be known as ‘Mahama Walk’ for his campaign bid, some gurus of the NDC, who are also scheming to lead the party to the elections, approached the hierarchy of the NDC to put a stop to Mr Mahama since the Unity Walk was initially meant for the reorganization of the NDC.”
“The NDC’s leadership did not heed the advice, and there are rumors that the NDC’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is working underground to become the running mate to Mr Mahama.”
By Melvin Tarlue