Former Majority Leader in Parliament and Campaign Manager for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has dismissed suggestions that contenders in a party’s flagbearer race could later be selected as running mates, describing such an arrangement as impractical and politically unwise.
Speaking on Atumpan FM, the former lawmaker said he is unaware of any precedent where a candidate who contested a party’s flagbearership was subsequently chosen as a running mate.
“I have not seen anywhere that a contender in a flagbearer election is later chosen as a running mate,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone else has heard of such a thing.”
According to him, the intense nature of internal party contests makes it difficult to later unite former rivals on a single ticket. He noted that the recent contest was highly competitive and, at times, acrimonious.
“The contest was heated, and some of the things that were said, including insults and even claims by some that they did not believe in Dr. Bawumia’s policies, make such considerations unrealistic,” he explained.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stressed that political tickets must be built on ideological alignment and mutual trust, warning against pairing individuals with sharply opposing views or personalities.
“We cannot put together two diametrically opposing candidates or personalities on one ticket,” he stated. “It is not possible. Cementing such a partnership becomes very difficult.”
Beyond party unity, he said the choice of a running mate must be based on competence, reliability, and the ability to effectively complement the flagbearer.
“The running mate should be someone who complements you, not someone you will be afraid to leave matters in their care,” he added.
He also pointed out that regional balance remains a critical factor in selecting a running mate. With Dr. Bawumia hailing from northern Ghana, now made up of five regions, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it would be difficult to select another running mate from the same geographical area unless the individual is exceptionally outstanding.
Given these considerations, he concluded that both political harmony and strategic balance must guide the selection of a running mate, rather than pressure from internal party rivalries.
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