Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to the NPP flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo says all the vice presidential contenders over whom he was chosen are excellent individuals in their own right. He said they are all qualified if not more than him to occupy the position. Dr. Bawumia who was speaking on Joy FM’s Front Page programme was selected from amongst names such as Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Hajia Alima Mahama, Gifty Afenyi Dadzie and Mrs Gladys Asmah. He said he had been talking to them and they “are all generous”, adding that “these are stand-up Ghanaians who are committed to this country”. Dr. Bawumia said none of them haboured ill-feelings because their interest in becoming vice presidential candidate for the NPP was not personal. Rather they are interested in seeing the presidential candidate of the party win the elections to prosecute the agenda of accelerated growth and modernization of the society. On the issue of some party stalwarts openly opposing his nomination prior to the final decision, he said it was important to recognize that some people struggled in the trenches to build the party. To that extent their complaints that he Bawumia was not a known activist were justified. However, the decision to nominate also demonstrates the party’s preparedness to call people from all walks of life regardless of their background to serve the party in the front lines provided that is in the best national interest. Dr. Bawumia believes he is not different from any of the NPP activists because he shares their desire to see Ghana’s economy transformed. Touching on his first main political interaction at the party’s conference in Sekondi, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana said he kept pacing up and down throughout the night fearing the worse. As an ardent believer in excellence, he was conscious of the expectation of him and did not want to fail his admirers. “There is no easy way to anything whether in delivering a speech or sweeping the floor. You must put a lot of hard work into it,” he pointed out. Asked what he would do if the NPP loses the elections, he said “NPP will win the elections with the support of Ghanaians”. He believes Ghanaians share Nana's vision of transforming the economy and creating jobs for the people and will vote for that vision. He said the party’s flag-bearer is pro-youth and committed to bridging the unjustifiable gap between the north and south of the country. Story by Malik Abass Daabu