Isaac Osei
As the race for the running mate to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, reaches a critical juncture, the Board Chairman of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Isaac Osei, has declared his willingness to serve in that capacity.
The Vice President is expected to unveil his running mate for the December election by close of this month when his preference will be submitted to the National Council for endorsement in line with the party’s constitution.
Insiders believe that Mr. Isaac Osei, who is also a former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), is emerging as a strong force out of the top five candidates under consideration.
Mr. Osei’s potential entry as a ‘dark horse’ could significantly bolster Dr. Bawumia’s bid for triumph in the forthcoming elections, given his distinguished background in public service and notable track record in running private businesses.
This is evidenced by his election into office as the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Secretariat for a two-year term.
Mr. Osei is a two-term Member of Parliament (MP) for the Subin Constituency in the Ashanti Region, and was selected as the ranking member of trade and industry as well as foreign affairs in his first and second terms in Parliament respectively.
As a development economist, foreign relations expert and an industrialist, he is expected to use his decades of experience to complement Dr. Bawumia in critical areas such as industrialisation, rural development and the improvement of the country’s agricultural sector.
Mr. Osei’s outstanding contributions and achievements to the Ghanaian economy saw him recently being inducted into the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame alongside 18 other corporate achievers.
During his time as Managing Director of TOR, the refinery was also able to attract British Petroleum (BP) and Vitol as partners to help improve its operations with crude oil.
Mr. Osei also supervised the shutdown maintenance of both the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC), after the plants had missed three important shutdown maintenance cycles. This reduced losses, and improved the efficiency of both plants.
His time as CEO of COCOBOD saw the implementation of a three-year plan aimed at producing one million tons of cocoa with focus on four main areas – trade, logistics and infrastructure, productivity enhancement, and disease and pest control which resulted in the historic cocoa production in the country.
During his time as COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Osei was appointed as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO).
Besides being a member of the Governing Board of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (CIBT) as a staunch Catholic who worships at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra.
Mr. Osei is both an Ahanta and Ashanti as his mother hails from Dixcove in the Western Region while his father who hails from Sepe Tinpom, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region was the first Asanteman Otumfuo Nkosuohene.
He has been a member of the party since its formation in 1992 and was a member of the party’s National Council.
He is currently a national patron of the party.
With a unique blend of experience, integrity, and expertise that resonates beyond party affiliations, Mr. Osei stands out as a compelling choice for the role of vice presidential candidate alongside Dr. Bawumia.
Among the other possible contenders are Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, each bringing a diverse set of skills, experiences, and perspectives that could shape the political landscape significantly.
As discussions intensify around potential nominees, it becomes evident that NPP members are seeking individuals who not only excel individually but can also contribute substantially to Dr. Bawumia’s electoral prospects.
In evaluating the contenders, it is noteworthy that all potential NPP vice presidential candidates are Christians hailing from the southern region of the country, a factor that aligns with the party’s tradition of maintaining a balance between Christian and Muslim representation on its ticket.
As the NPP navigates through its selection process, the choice of a running mate will not only determine the party’s electoral appeal but also uphold the established traditions and principles that have defined its identity over the years.
By Vincent Kubi