The Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has been confirmed running mate to NPP flag-bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo for the December 7 elections. The decision followed a crunch meeting of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that lasted several hours. The endorsement of Dr Bawumia has however been met with intense protest by some party faithful. Some of the protesters are already threatening to vote "skirt-and-blouse" in the December elections. Dr Bawumia, 45, would be formally introduced at the NPP delegates’ congress at Sekondi on Saturday. The naming of Dr Bawumia puts to rest media speculations about who becomes the running mate. Ahead of the midnight announcement, several names, including Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs; Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of ECOWAS Commission; Alhaji Adam Zakaria, Principal of the Bagabaga Training College in Tamale; and Alhaji M.N.D Jawula, Former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, had been mentioned as potential nominees. Dr Bawumia, an economist, is the son of veteran politician, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, onetime Chairman of the Council of State and a Former Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board. Dr Bawumia rose to the position of a Deputy Governor in 2006 after serving as the Head of the Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Department of the Bank. He is currently Chairman of the Capital Market Committee and spearheaded the strategy for accessing the international capital markets with last year’s debut 750 million dollars that was over-subscribed. He was also responsible for drafting the financial sector component of the Millennium Challenge Account Compact, which yielded 547 million dollars for the financing of its projects. Dr Bawumia is credited with policy initiatives such as the abolition of secondary reserve requirements and the opening up of the banking sector for competition. He was part of a government team that negotiated with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on various government initiatives, including the HIPC, when the NPP assumed power in 2001. Dr Bawumia is married and has three children. Listen to reactions of some party grassroots members and key figures after Dr Bawumia's confirmation as running mate to Akufo-Addo