The Communications Minister says although the attributes and contributions of a running mate will always count, it cannot make up for the “inadequacies” of the party nor that of the flagbearer.

This according to Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, should stop the NDC from marketing the new running mate, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, as the one who would bring a change to their candidature during the 2020 elections.

“She is not the one on the ballot box, let’s not lose sight of that fact…So, in all the excitement it is as if the NDC themselves have given up on the strengths of their flag bearer and are hoping that Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang will be the one to help them to win. (But), you do have your work cut out for you,” she said on Newsfile, Saturday.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated that the impression being created by the NDC that they would automatically win the votes of all women and gender activists because of their choice of a running mate is wrong.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was revealed as the running mate at a meeting of the NDC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the party’s headquarters at Adabraka in Accra Monday.

The announcement brings closure to months of speculation and several fake news stories on the former president’s choice for a running mate for his comeback bid.

Many Ghanaians including some womens group in the country applauded the selection of the former education Minister.

The African Centre for Women in Politics (ACWP) described the appointment of Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as ‘a fulfilment that has been long-awaited by women in Ghana, in Africa and the world at large.”

A historic day today in Ghana politic as the First Female Vice Presidential running mate has been chosen by a major political party.
Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman. pic.twitter.com/Fqc0iVSySO

— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) July 6, 2020

Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman has been picked as the running mate for @OfficialNDCGh to partner the Flagbearer @JDMahama for the upcoming December 7th general election, this is a solid partnership, I can see Victory on the ticket of John and Naana.#JohnMahama2020 pic.twitter.com/zd6FfTJzqs

— ALHASSAN MOHAMMED SANI (@MohasanMOHAMMED) July 6, 2020

#JohnMahama2020 Sam George talking about women employment why then don’t you make the woman the flag bearer of NDC it swear that will bring NDC to power in 2020

— Abynadoko (@abenadoko58) July 6, 2020

But Ursula Owusu says the appointment does not also necessarily mean that NDC is in support of women in power or politics.

She explained that if the party wanted to show they were all for women holding a higher position in politics, they would have voted for former First Lady Konadu Agyemang Rawlings when she stood to contest as flagbearer for the party.

“They flatly rejected that opportunity and delivered her a miserable 3%, which was a clearer representation that they rejected her candidature as a person and the gender she represented."

"Everybody knew Nana Konadu’s credentials when it comes to women's empowerment, if indeed within the NDC itself there is a desire to widen the space for women participation in politics, they would have seized that opportunity then,” she told host Samson Lardy Ayenini.