Presidential hopeful Sylvester Mensah is questioning claims former President Mahama should be allowed to lead the party into the 2020 elections because he is more popular.

The former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority said the opposition party must go beyond who is more popular and begin to think about which product is more marketable.

Speaking on Joy FM’s personality profile with Lexis Bill, the amiable personality, said the party needs a new candidate.

A host of high profile personalities have announced their intention to contest the high office on the ticket of the NDC.

They include ex-president John Mahama, second deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, former Trades Minister Dr Ekwow Spio Gabrah, Banker and businessman Nurideen Iddrisu, Prof Joshua Alabi.

Political pundits have tipped the ex-president to be retained as the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2020 elections because he is a more popular candidate who will be easy to market.

But Mr. Sylvester Mensah said that assertion is wrong.

“I get a little worried when people start to create the impression that he is so popular… Beyond that, I also try to shy away from dealing with individuals and personalities in circumstances of this nature.

“If you are a businessman, you are marketing a product, let’s say the product is a vehicle, well-engineered, well marketed. A vehicle that perhaps won an award the very day it was put on the market. This very product you consider as your best product goes to the market again on a re-launch and it is rejected. So where lies the element of more popular, marketable and what have you?" he said.

Mr. Mensah said the seeming popularity and marketability of the ex-president is only a myth, not the reality.