Former President Mahama names campaign team

Former President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled the team that will manage his flagbearership campaign to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to victory in the 2020 presidential election.

A statement signed and issued from Apam in the Central Region by a former presidential staffer, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, named a former Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum, as his Campaign Manager.

Ambassador Agyekum has held various ministerial positions, including former Ashanti Regional Minister, Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs and other senior level public appointments.

The statement named Nii Vandepuye Djangmah and Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw as first and second deputy campaign managers respectively.

Nii Vandepuye is a former Deputy Regional Minister for the Greater Accra Region while Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw was a member of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

Spokespersons et al

The former President designated Mr Agyenim-Boateng as his spokesperson and Ms Elsie Esenam Appau-Klu as first deputy spokesperson Mr Agyenim-Boateng is a lawyer. He is also a former broadcaster and media manager.

Ms Appau-Klu is a lawyer, Human Resource practitioner, Policy Analyst and Water Governance Specialist.

Ms Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie is the second deputy Spokesperson. She holds an MBA in international Business Strategy from Henley Business School in the UK and a Bachelor’s in Information Technology. She has experience in oil and gas, and media management.

Dr Callistus Mahama has been named as Administrative and Operations Coordinator. He is a former Head of the Local Government Service.

Stakeholder Coordinators

Five other personalities have been designated as Stakeholder Coordinators. They are Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, a former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Ambassador Kwesi Ahwoi, a former Ambassador to South Africa, and Ms Priscilla Arhin, a former NDC Women’s Organiser for Cape Coast constituency and a one-time Assembly Member for Cape Coast Metropolis.

The rest are Madam Sherry Ayitey, a former Minister of State, and Mr Alfred Abayateye, a former Member of Parliament (NPC) for Sege Constituency.

According to the statement, former President Mahama said he was fortunate to have the backing of such an impressive group of hardworking people who were as committed as he was to the road ahead and that their combination of years of experience, vision, energy and new ideas was inspiring, adding that: “I am excited to work with them.”

Meanwhile, Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports from Agona Swedru that former President Mahama has said the NDC has learnt from its mistakes during the 2016 electioneering and will not repeat them in the 2020 election.

He noted that funds and other campaign logistics that were released to enhance the party’s campaign did not reach the right individuals and party functionaries.

He stated that what happened in 2016 had taught the NDC a great lesson and that moving forward, no such things would be allowed to happen again in order to brighten the party’s chances of capturing power in the 2020 general election.

Regional tour

Addressing party supporters on his first day of campaign for re-election as the NDC’s flag bearer for the 2020 election in some constituencies in the Central Region last Wednesday, he noted that “this time round campaign logistics will be channelled through national executives to the regional executives through the constituency executives and finally to the branch executives”.

He stated that the new paradigm shift was to ensure that campaign materials and logistics were not diverted as it occurred in 2016 but rather they reached the right individuals and party supporters to enhance the party’s campaign.

The former President who was accompanied by the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Ebenezer K.T. Addo, the former Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, and other party bigwigs such as Mr Kofi Totobi Kwakye, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Mr Kobby Akyeampong, Mr John Jinapor, as well as some former presidential staffers, former MPs and former district chief executives (DCEs), interacted with delegates from constituencies such as Awutu Senya East, Awutu Senya West, Gomoa East, Agona East, Agona West, Gomoa Central and Effutu on his first day.
As part of his four-day tour he will visit all the 23 constituencies in the region.

Vigilance in 2020

Mr Mahama charged the party supporters to be vigilant during the next election and ensure that every single ballot was counted, saying: “I am sure that if party members at all the polling stations are vigilant, I have no doubt whatsoever that after the counting, NDC will be victorious.”