A member of the National Council of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Andy Appiah-Kubi, has expressed his displeasure with party members campaigning for the position of running mate for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

According to him, it is unconstitutional for individuals to campaign for the selection of a running mate.

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Appiah-Kubi clarified that such actions are unfair to the party’s presidential candidate, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as they will distract him.

“I have heard various names being bandied about, but as I know, in seasons like this, everybody wants to be heard so people are doing unnecessary campaigns, and I have heard quite a lot. 

“Is it just by our constitutional dictates, are we supposed to campaign for selection? The answer is no. So all those who are just campaigning, I'm sure they are wasting their time,” he said.

Mr Appiah-Kubi argued that he would decline the nomination of anyone who is contesting and campaigning unconstitutionally if he were the presidential candidate.

“I would have disappointed them because I don't appreciate the aggression people are putting into a campaign like that. 

“It is unconstitutional, and it is unfair on the presidential candidate. It's very, very unfair. He must have the peace of mind to look through the whole army and select the one who complements his ticket,” he said.

The NPP National Council member said it is inappropriate for people to influence Dr Bawumia by engaging others in the media and the citizenry to campaign for them.

He stressed that he has never seen any presidential candidate confronted with such campaigns as recently observed.

Additionally, Mr Appiah-Kubi said that there have been situations where the National Council has confirmed some nominees and situations where they have declined confirmation.

He remarked, “So it can be A or B. So for now, we are only just waiting on the presidential candidate to exercise his mandate of nominating one of the members of the party as his running mate.”

Meanwhile, Mr Appiah-Kubi has disapproved of the running mate candidate reportedly submitted by the party’s flagbearer.

According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, is not the right choice to partner with the party's flagbearer in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Read also: Opoku Prempeh not the right choice to partner with Bawumia – Appiah-Kubi

He argued that Mr Opoku Prempeh is not acceptable to the entirety of the NPP base, particularly MPs, adding that the Energy Minister cannot campaign effectively in many constituencies.

“I wouldn't speak to a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn't choose him. He is not my preference. 'Appiah-Kubi is saying that he is not my preference', but that doesn't mean he is not qualified,” he said.