Dr Kwabena Duffour, The New Other Man On Mahama’s Toes
Dr. Kwabena Duffour remains undaunted and pressing harder for the ticket to be NDC’s flagbearer come 2024. He is a former Finance Minister and Governor of the Bank of Ghana. The experienced economist comes across as a formidable challenger to former President John Dramani Mahama.
Dr. Duffour has been canvassing party delegates at Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra region as part of his national tour ahead of the May 13 party primaries. Even though well-attended, his town hall meeting was bereft of the gaiety which accompanied Mahama’s campaign launch at Ho on March 2. Duffour’s campaign launched weeks ago witnessed the presence of some pioneers.
The thrust of Dr. Duffour’s campaign is two-pronged as he reminded the party’s internal community of his interest in prioritizing it, evidenced in his ”Ahotor project”. It is a caravan that attempted to tackle issues facing party members across the country. Political observers opine that even if the impact of the initiative was palliative the symbolism of it speaks volumes of his unalloyed commitment to the welfare of party members.
Speaking to the delegates, he poked at the larger picture saying he is in the race with the aim to lift the Ghanaian economy to an enviable pedestal from the doldrums where the basic needs of the people, food, clothing, and shelter are to be well handled. He said it does not befit Ghana to be resource-laden and yet be hanging on stilts with a cup in hand begging for handouts. Dr. Duffour said it is the height of illogicality for countries in the desert to supply food staples to Ghana in the tropical rainforest.
He situated the remedial measures to be undertaken by his administration within the party context, saying it is the NDC that can reverse the dwindling fortunes of Ghana speedily and decisively.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour was a Deputy Governor and was later promoted to substantive Governor of the Central Bank under President Jerry John Rawlings whose tenure ended in January 2001. In 2009 he was appointed Finance and Economic Planning Minister by President John Atta Mills. He said, the world’s fastest growth recorded by Ghana under the Mills administration was not a happenstance but represents economic prudence. Former President John Mahama who is a communications specialist was then the Vice-President and Head of the Economic Management Team.
Dr. Duffour who is an Ashanti brings width to the Ashanti claim to the next presidency of Ghana as his ethnic kindred in the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, has also lined up to clinch the baton after the incumbent ends his term. Will a Duffour candidature court desirable numbers of the region with the bulkiest vote badly in need by the NDC to tip the scales? Within the internal party struggle and dynamics, the Mahama team has averred that the former President is one who has seen it all and is the most capable of taking Ghana to the next level.
Will it be a walk in the park for Mahama or Dr. Duffour will dislodge him? A dogfight it is.