Aliu Mahama to contest NPP flagbearership?

Information reaching the Statesman indicates that former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama is aiming to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2012 general elections.

Aliu Mahama served as the Vice President of Ghana for two terms under President J.A Kufuor and in the December 2007 congress of the NPP was unsuccessful in his first bid to become the flagbearer of the NPP ahead of the 2008 general elections, as he placed third behind eventual winner Nana Akufo-Addo and runner-up Alan Kyerematen.

Reasons that have been cited in support of Aliu Mahama's bid include his experience as having served as Vice President of Ghana for eight years, his potential to attract national acceptability than the current names making the rounds, his ability to demystify the perception that the NPP is an Akan Party and finally his ability to unite the NPP ahead of the 2012 elections.

The election of the NPP's flagbearer for the 2012 elections is likely to take place in June this year. It appears the thinking within the party is to get it done before the Fifa World Cup which is scheduled to take begin on the 11th of June 2010 and also in time for the party to focus on the District Assembly elections scheduled to take place in August and September this year

The inclusion of Aliu Mahama would put the number of contestants who are known to be vying for the flagbearership of the party to five (5), although rumour has it that a sixth candidate is set to be known in the coming days.

Already in the reckoning for the party's flagbearership position include Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP's 2008 presidential candidate; Alan Kyerematen, former Minister of Trade, Industry and PSI; Isaac Osei, Member of Parliament for Subin; and Professor Frimpong Boateng, former CEO of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.