The speculative bubbles over NDC’s running mate issue have ended.  And John Dramani Mahama has eventually emerged as the man who will partner Professor John Evans Mills for the 7th December elections.

It is needless to mention that the running saga exposed the level of power dynamics and internal contradictions in the NDC which immeasurably suffered from bad press. 

Professor Mills who was at the vortex of this storm kept his cool and refused to buckle under intense pressure openly exerted by the former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.  In the end, Nana’s gender bird personified by the personable and articulate Betty Mould Iddrisu would not fly. 

Professor Mills so to speak, stuck to the stubborn inclination of his heart and obeyed the Law of Magnetism which simply explains why people of the same characteristics attract each other. 

A man of humility, simplicity and civility John Mahama without question enjoys a national appeal which cuts across the political and ethnic divide.  A Christian of the charismatic bend, specifically of Ringway Assemblies of God Church which has also produced Ghana’s first female Chief Justice, John Mahama is also blessed with linguistic purity and emotional stability. 

These qualities give him a distinctive image and provide a vital refuge for him in the storms of Ghana politics.  Many are therefore quick to conclude that John Mahama brings a huge political to Professor Mills’ ticket which no longer makes the presidency a distant dream. 

A quick counter attack by NDC opponents is that the two Johns, Atta Mills and Dramani Mahama are two sides of the same product which expired with the exit from power of Jerry John Rawlings in the year 2000. 

The lingering suspicion is that Atta Mills and his running mate are still vulnerable to the crass manipulation of the Rawlingses and this will erase whatever advantages John Mahama brings to the NDC table. 

As a communications expert, John is expected to employ all his skills to topple this potentially destructive notion.  Indeed, it is the ambition of every soldier to be a general and a politician, to be President. 

To John Mahama, therefore the running mate slot would push him closer to the pinnacle of his ambition.   And in case NDC wins, John Mahama even as Vice President would influence a refining tone in Ghana politics. 

While his selection generally strikes chords of welcome John Mahama’s elevation reignites the religious cum ethnic debate over the Vice Presidency. 

The outcome of the NPP congress reinforces the perception that choosing a Muslim of northern extraction as running mate is nothing more than a religious or ethnic tokenism.  So the parties must bite the bullet and field whoever would attract votes irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds. 

After all politics is about numbers.  The other parties must however be sensitive and prepared to deal with any backlack the running mate choice could generate.  As the saying goes, a race well begun is half won.  NDC was the first to choose its presidentialas well as a running mate.  But is the race won yet?  Election 2008 will tell.

By: Affail Monney, A Journalist.