Charles Bissue, the former Western Region Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has refuted claims that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is being groomed for the presidency.
Despite the perception that it is being done, he claimed that the NPP does not practice imposition of persons.
Speaking on the New Day show with Johnnie Hughes on TV3 on Thursday, July 14, when asked if the Presidency was being prepared for Dr. Bawumia, he explained that a similar idea existed in 2008 that Mr. Alan Kyerematen was being set up to succeed then-President John Agyekum Kuffuor.
But eventually, he said, the party decided to elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to lead them into the general elections.
“That is the perception but has anyone covertly come to say that this is what we want to do? No,” Mr Bissue said.
He added “Because Dr Bawmuai is coming from the Presidency, as the Vice President to contest, obviously, they will say that. People are saying the same thing about John Boadu because he is the incumbent. So that is how it is looking but I do not think that it is being cooked for him.
“The voting population, they are discerning, in 2008 people said it was being cooked for Alan Krerematen but the party decided and gave it to Nana Akufo-Addo, so you cannot always impose on the NPP delegates. I believe that these executives that we have actually selected have the same minds set because our generation shouldn’t bequeathed monocracy or people imposing on us because our forgathers never did that.”
Regarding his decision to quit the General Secretary race of the NPP, Charles Bissue stated that he conferred with his family and supporters prior to taking that decision.
In his view, there are various ways he can serve the party, not just through the position of the General Secretary.
He said “I went through the process of nomination, vetting. I made the decision with my supporters, family and promoters based on the exigencies of the time. I realized that it was six of us going for the position and in politics sometimes you have to be strategic.
“Going through the vetting process means that we are all qualified and there is going to be just one General Secretary. So I thought through it and I felt, if you want to work for the party it doesn’t have to be a General Secretary position that you need to do that. Hitherto, I have been working for the party through communications and all that.”
The former Western Region Secretary of the NPP withdrew from the contest to unseat incumbent John Boadu.
His withdrawal brings to five the number of aspirants who have scratched themselves from the race.
