The Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper says former Railway Minister, Joe Ghartey, shot himself in the foot when he openly declared his intention to contest in the 2024 flagbearer position for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Benjamin Emmanuel Ephson on Joy Prime’s Beyond the Headlines Tuesday said it is important for the NPP to concentrate on the four-year mandate that electorates have given to it.

After emerging victorious in the 2020 parliamentary elections, the Essikado-Ketan MP, disclosed that he intends to succeed his boss, President Akufo-Addo in 2024.

Mr Ghartey on a local radio announce his commitment to compete in the NPP Presidential primaries in the coming years.

Fast forward in 2021, Mr Ghartey’s name was absent in the list of ministerial appointees that President Akufo-Addo presented to Parliament.

This raised questions among a section of Ghanaians who thought the former Railway Minister was one of the hardworking appointees of the incumbent government.

Thus, contributing to a discussion on the future of NPP after President Akufo-Addo, Mr Ephson claimed “Joe Ghartey was not reappointed because he had come out to say that when nomination open for 2024 he will be interested. So obviously he was put down.”

The Editor also advised NPP to select a third force other than the Trade Minister, Alan Kyeremanten and Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as a flagbearer in the forthcoming 2024 general elections.

According to him, it would be in the best interest for NPP should they avoid both Alan Kyeremanteng and Bawumia due to its dicey nature.