A member of the Vice President's campaign team, Dr Kwame Amoako Tuffour says the New Patriotic Party risks losing the 2008 presidential elections if it goes to the polls with yet another Akan candidate.

He told supporters of the party in the Central regional town of Mankessim on Saturday that the Danquah Busia tradition has always fielded an Akan candidate at elections and it was about time a non Akan person was chosen to lead the party to elections.

Dr Amoako Tuffour who was speaking at the official launching of Vice President Aliu Mahama’s campaign for the NPP flag bearer slot, said in the Vice President, the party has a great opportunity to reverse the trend and urged its followers not to spurn the chance to elect its first flagbearer from the northern region.

He said the issue was not about tribalism, but also the man’s competency.

(You can play the audio to listen to Dr. Amoako Tuffour’s submission.)

Alhaji Aliu Mahama reiterated his readiness to lead the party and nation into development, arguing that he was the most experienced of all the NPP flagbearer aspirants.

He said after serving as the Vice President for almost seven years, he was the most qualified of the 19 aspirants to lead the party, submitting that when a headmaster is transferred or retired, his natural successor is the assistant and not just any teacher from anywhere.

He therefore urged the NPP delegates to the December 22 congress to judge carefully before electing a leader for the party.