NPP To Maintain Aliu As Running Mate

The New Patriotic Party is likely to stick with current vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama as President Kufuor’s running mate for the 2004 presidential elections, according to Deputy Information Minister Asamoah Boateng.

Reacting to media speculations that the NPP could drop Mahama for the next elections on JoyFM, Boateng said there was no need to change the pair who he says have worked well together so far.

"It is up to the party to decide but as far as I am concerned, there is no question at all that the same team would work again. Their relationship has been very good, cooperative and hardworking. Within the party, talk of changing the running mate has not even arisen."

One name that has made the rounds as Mahama's possible replacement as running mate is former Ghana ambassador to the United States of America and current trade minister, Allan Kyeremateng.

But Boateng said Kyeremateng was being to the best use now. "Alan is working hard. He has got a lot of work to do at the Ministry which is strategic and I don't see that changing now".

Boateng suggested that changing the running mate was not a major issue for the NPP party. "There is no need for a change. The party is solid but there are major constitutional issues to deal with not change of running mate."