Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama is launching his campaign to be flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party on Saturday. The event is to be held at Mankessim in the Central Region. The Vice President, who is one of 19 candidates vying for the presidential slot of his party, went through vetting on Thursday, a first step towards preparations for congress. His special aide Yaw Buabeng Asamoah told Joy News that the choice of venue was dictated by the Vice President’s desire to make the ordinary Ghanaian part of the launching and make it people-centered. Yaw Buabeng who described the event as an official initiation and stressed that it was a very important event in the plans of the Vice President to win the slot. “The Vice President in particular, as you are well aware, has had to combine two very onerous roles and as we speak, he still continues to combine them so it is important that at some point we demonstrate clearly that he is indeed on a campaign trail and therefore he has chosen to formerly launch his campaign.” Asked what could be the Vice President’s campaign trump card, the special aide said Aliu Mahama has been an integral part of the rulling government and equally shares in its success story. Added to that, he said Aliu, a peace-loving and humble, has not only supported President Kufuor in his administration but has actively participated in governance, a situation he said sharply contradicts the acrimonious relations that previously existed between a sitting president and his vice. According to the special aide The Vice President was at Akwapem in Eastern Region on Thursday to commiserate with the Okuapehene on the death of his wife and to wish the chiefs and people well on the occasion of the celebration of the Odwira festival. (Play the attached audio to listen to Yaw Buabeng Asamoah in an interview with Joy News' Matilda Asante)