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Former President John Mahama is the best bet for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) if it is to win the 2020 elections, Major (rtd) Kwadwo Boakye-Djan, Spokesperson for the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), has said.

According to him, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not be a walk-over for the NDC in the elections, although, in his view, the government is under-performing.

The NDC has set 7 December 2018 for its presidential primaries ahead of the 2020 polls.

This was announced by General Secretary Johnson Aseidu Nketia at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 2 August 2018.

Mr Nketia, who said the date is in line with the party’s constitution, explained that: “We have taken note of our constitutional requirement to choose our flag bearer 24 months before the next elections and the constitution, not having been amended yet, we can safely calculate our timelines from 7th December 2020, so that will bring us back to 7th of December 2018 for a choice to be made on who leads our party into the next general elections.

“Ordinarily, we would have concluded all the internal elections before opening the space for campaigning and declaration of intentions, but we realise that if we are to wait till we finish our elections by September, the time will be short for some aspirants, so on behalf of the national executive committee and on my own behalf as the Chief Executive of NDC, I wish to declare the campaign period for our presidential primaries officially opened with immediate effect.”

Mr Nketia, has directed that all hopefuls must first inform the party of their intention to contest before campaigning.

He also warned the would-be aspirants to be wary of the comments they pass during the campaign and to be modest.

Speaking on Accra FM Friday, 3 August, Major (rtd) Boakye-Djan, said: “The NDC will need to bring Mahama to meet the NPP and its bullfighter Akufo-Addo. Akufo-Addo no doubt is a bullfighter in the political space in Ghana. I have known him for a very long time, and, so, I can testify to that.

“The 2020 elections will not be a child’s play, it is not going to be an easy battle for the NDC. Mahama has the clout and the ability to face the NPP, and, so, anybody in the NDC who will prevent him from becoming the flag bearer is an enemy within the NDC.

“Already John Mahama has been marketed and is a household name at the moment, and, so, why bring another person.”