‘Novice’ Spio-Garbrah got timing wrong – Jinapor

A political analyst and Senior Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Dr Ahmed Jinapor, has described as “not appropriate” the timing of the official launch of the candidacy of Ekwow Spio-Garbrah ahead of National Democratic Congress’s presidential primary.

Despite commending the former Trades and Industry Minister for the bold step and seeming defiance of a party directive not to start campaigning, Dr Jinapor said his timing was wrong.

“I would have wished that he would have waited a bit,” he told 3FM’s Kwakye Afreh Nuamah on Midday News on Thursday.

Dr Spio-Garbrah on Wednesday launched what he called ‘Forward Agenda’ to announce his preparedness not only to lead the NDC but also to lead Ghana.

“This Forward Agenda has been established to carry the message of sacrifice, of stewardship, of partnership with many stakeholders and with commitment to the development of Ghana and Africa.

“It is not one that can be led by anybody. It is not just a matter of your talents. It is not a matter just of your competences. It is not a matter of your educational attainments or financial capacities. It is the motivation in your spirits which is very difficult to measure.”

‘Mahama and the others’

But Dr Jinapor said Mr Spio-Garbrah’s inclusion in NDC’s presidential race may not change anything as the election is definitely going to be between “John Dramani Mahama and the others”.

He said even if Mr Mahama does not offer himself for election, his legacies will invariably be central to the campaign of any candidate to lead the NDC.

The Senior Lecturer observed that inasmuch as “we cannot push [Spio-Garbrah] aside because we don’t know what he has”, he is not experienced when it comes to elections.

“Spio-Garbrah is a novice when it comes to public elections in Ghana,” he said, citing the fact that he has not stood as a parliamentary candidate nor a presidential candidate before.

But former president Mahama, he said, rose through the levels of member of Parliament to the apogee of Ghanaian politics.

“He has the pedigree of experience when it comes to strategy.”

The NDC has begun reorganization in an effort to recapture power in 2020.

The party has scheduled to elect its presidential candidate before the end of this year.