Former President John Dramani Mahama has submitted his nomination forms at the headquarters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) today 12 December 2018.
Other flagbearer hopefuls who submitted their nomination forms today were Alban Bagbin, Josuah Alabi and Sylvester Mensah.
The forms of the various aspirants were received by a team of national executives led by the party’s National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketsia.
Below are excerpts of the various flagbearer aspirants’ speech after they had submitted their forms.
John Dramani Mahama
“We do not seek power for power sake. We seek power to return NDC to power to continue the good work that NDC was doing for the nation,” the former President said.
He added that “I believe we can make history and that is the history of the re-election of a person who was president before. It is a rare phenomenon.”
Alban Bagbin
Alban Bagbin assured his teeming supporters that he will abide by the party’s rules during his campaign.
“As a presidential aspirant, I assure you that with your support and prayers and our message of grassroots empowerment and commitment to the ending of the cycle of neglect that has plagued those who have served party and country, victory will be ours in 2020.”
Josuah Alabi
Josuah Alabi said he was in the race to offer leadership and give hope to the NDC’s teeming supporters and the country as a whole.
“It is clear that we really need resources and that’s why people like me with good leadership skills, I have to pay 300,000 cedis to present myself to lead this party,” he affirmed.
He said that if the party had been administered properly, “flagbearers wouldn’t have to pay anything so that the common man with good ideas can lead this party and the country.”
“I’m afraid for the party,” he said.
Sylvester Mensah
He said the development of Ghana is currently happening at a snail pace and promised to place the country on the path of rapid accelerated development, if given the nod as president.
He noted that: “Ghana is in a hurry. We can’t continue to move at the pace we have moved in recent years when it comes to the development of this country. We need to inject substantial levels of urgency into government business in order to get maximum results from all sectors.”
“If you give me the opportunity as flagbearer and subsequently as president, I shall make sure the economy of Ghana is transformed totally.”
The deadline for the filing of nominations for the presidential aspirants was extended to December 18, 2018 after some pressure from the contestants, who petitioned and got the filing fee reduced to Ghc300,000 from an initial figure of Ghc400,000.
The vetting of the aspirants will be on the 21st and 22nd of December, 2018, with balloting to follow immediately.
Any appeals from the aspirants will be permitted between the 22nd and 24th of December, 2018.
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah
