Mahama’s ‘Brother-In-Law’ To Replace Amissah-Arthur In 2016

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Created on Tuesday, 25 February 2014 00:00

Mahama’s ‘Brother-In-Law’ To Replace Amissah-Arthur In 2016

25 February 2014

Credible information reaching the New Statesman newspaper indicates that President John Dramani Mahama has finally decided to make his Vice President, Paa Kwasi Amissah-Arthur, a one-term Vice President in favour of a candidate from the region where his wife, Lordina Mahama, hails from.

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Some gurus of the National Democratic Congress in the Brong Ahafo region have hinted the 'New Statesman' that current Minister for Ashanti Region, who hails from the Brong Ahafo region and a former Minister in that region, Eric Opoku, is being groomed for the position of Vice President.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, according to deep throat sources in the NDC, was from day-one a term Vice President, as ‘the powers above,’ including President Mahama, had already penciled down Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to succeed Amissah Arthur in the run-up to the 2016 elections.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur, who was a “favorite:” of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, was chosen to ensure that the party’s support in the Central Region was not whittled down in the 2012 election.

“Amissah Arthur was never a favourite or the person President Mahama preferred, but was forced to do so because of the election dynamics and the need for the NDC to retain the Central votes,” an NDC insider told the paper.

Accordingly, to maintain the core votes of the NDC in the Central Region, President Mahama had planned to change Amissah-Arthur in favour of Hannah Tetteh before the 2016 election.

However, credible information gathered NDC sources in the Brong Ahafo Region have revealed that the party views the struggle for domination of the region will remain vital and important for the fortunes of the NDC in any future election.

In view of this, the Party, 1st Lady Lordina Mahama, as well as some NDC big wigs, are said to be rooting for Eric Opoku to be considered as the next Vice Presidential Candidate of the party, as they believe the NDC has the Central Region votes already sewn out.

Late last year, the New Statesman carried a story about how Kwesi Amissah Arthur had threatened to resign his position as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana in September 2013, following his lack of activity after his appointment to that position.

Sources confirmed to the 'New Statesman' that Kwesi Amissah Arthur only backtracked from his decision after being “talked to by elders and bigwigs of the NDC” on the consequences his resignation would have on the governance of the country.

According to sources, Amissah Arthur is livid about being related to the background in the scheme of affairs at the Presidency, as he has no schedule and believes his expertise is not being utilized in helping to run the affairs of the nation.

Vice President Amissah Arthur, the sources said, only agreed to be Vice President after the death of the late President Mills, and subsequently running mate to President Mahama in the 2012 elections, after an agreement that he would head all areas regarding finance and the economy.

President Mahama, as per the agreement was going to superintend over all other areas but the economy.

“Amissah Arthur, after being assured of control over the economy and other matters relating to the financial sectors as well as a say in who gets appointment onto boards of governmental institutions had his dreams shattered,” the source said.

The source explained that after the elections, “President Mahama completely changed and now acts sometimes as though he is paranoid. Amissah Arthur has been relegated to the background and is now a ceremonial Vice President just attending events the President cannot attend.”

In addition to this, the source stated that Vice President Amissah Arthur is now the fifth most powerful persona to the Presidency, after President Mahama, Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, Deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyerr; and Presidential Staffer, Stan Dogbe.

The 'New Statesman' can confirm that any appointment made by Amissah Arthur for placement onto boards of governmental institutions has to be vetted by Stan Dogbe before onward transmission to the President. Amissah Arthur’s appointments, the source maintained, never see the light of day ‘as they are thrown away by Stan Dogbe.”

After witnessing the reneging of promises by President Mahama, his lack of activity and the lack of respect of his office, as he was being treated with contempt, Vice President Amissah Arthur was said to have tendered in his resignation as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

“This resignation was accepted by President Mahama, but it had to take bigwigs and elders from the party to dissuade the Vice President from resigning. The elders also spoke to the President to mend whatever differences he has with his Vice to ensure the country is governed accordingly,” The source added.

Source: The New Statesman