The Youth Caucus of the Opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC has called on the Presidential candidate of the party, John Dramani Mahama to consider appointing Dr Kwabena Duffuor as his running mate for the 2024 general election.
They believe that the former Presidential hopeful, Dr Kwabena Duffuor has a good track record to cushion Mahama to win the upcoming general election based on his track record as of the best finance ministers that the country has had.
A statement, issued by the Youth Caucus Convener, Mohammed Saani, indicated that Dr. Duffuor has an excellent performance record in all the public and private office positions he has held, both as a businessman and a politician. He described him as a man of integrity and a fine political guru.
Due to that, the Youth Caucus noted that the choice of Dr. Duffuor as the running mate for JM stands out as the most cogent and apt decision for the upcoming elections.
They noted that in an election cycle dominated by economic concerns, having an economist, a banker and an accomplished business person on the ticket is crucial, adding that Dr. Duffuor’s extensive experience and expertise in economics and banking make him the ideal candidate to support JM address the nation’s economic challenges.
Comparing Dr. Duffuor to his potential opponent, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Youth Caucus argues that ‘’While Dr. Bawumia may possess knowledge and experience, Dr. Duffuor’s seniority and depth of understanding surpasses his counterpart. This positions Dr. Duffuor as the wildcard for victory, offering a compelling choice that aligns with the electorate’s primary concerns about the economy’’.
The NDC Youth Caucus further underscored that ‘’Dr. Duffuor is a true statesman, he is the only former Minister in the Republic who did not take salary in his four years term as finance minister, he didn’t stay in any government bungalow, he did not use state vehicles for his work, neither did he took fuel from the state in the entire 4 years as finance minister’’.
They hail from Bole in the Savannah region and Kumawu in the Ashanti region of Ghana respectively. Former President John Mahama has tasted the presidency before whereas Dr. Kwabena Duffour climbed to the position of Finance and Economic Planning Minister, both in the Atta Mills-led government.
The constitutional heir-apparent Mahama, then the Vice-President assumed the substantive position upon the sudden death of President Mills but Dr. Duffuor missed out on appointments in the Mahama presidency.
He elevated Duffuor’s Deputy Seth Terkper five months later and Duffuor settled down to private business where he had also cut his teeth.
