As this year's general elections zero in, the issue of whom the running mate of the ruling New Patriotic Party's Flag bearer is going to be still remains unresolved. Besides Hajia Alima Mahama and Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Ministers for Women and Children’s Affairs and Water Resources, Works and Housing respectively, whose names are said to be definitely on the shortlist of the three-member vetting committee set up by the Presidential Candidate, two relatively new faces have also expressed their readiness to take up the position when given the opportunity by the Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. They are Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister for Ports and Railways, and Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, a Member of the Council of State and gender advocate. However, information reaching The Statesman as at press time yesterday indicated that Hajia Alima Mahama, a lawyer by profession, is likely to get the nod- and when that happens, is on the verge of becoming the first female Vice President of Ghana when Nana Akufo-Addo is elected President in the December polls. Supporting Hajia Alima’s bid is a group known as the Voice of Zongo Women Association which claims that the Nalerigu MP is the best person to bridge the gap between the northern and southern parts of the country, since she hails from the former. A statement signed by the group’s Chairperson, Safia Alhassan said, "In the traditional governance system, the King is supported by the Queen, and the time is long overdue for a male President of Ghana to have a female Vice-President to support him". The New African magazine has quoted Nana Oye-Lithur, Head of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Accra as saying that "Hajia Alima is very committed to her job, her cause and her mission" – (July 2008, No 475 edition). "Above all, she is very committed to enhancing the status of the Ghanaian woman. She is worth her weight in gold", noted Lithur. Hajia Alima herself is quoted by the magazine as saying, "I would gladly accept to be the running mate of our Presidential candidate, if I was offered the opportunity". However, there are protests from some Muslim groups within and outside the party against Hajia Alima’s candidature. Last week, a group of Muslim youth thronged the premises of The Statesman to register their opposition to the choice of Alima as running mate. This was after a national daily had pointed out that the Women and Children’s Affairs Minister was highly tipped to be Nana’s running mate. The spokesperson for the group, Seidu Kassim, a 40-year old businessman from Kumasi, told The Statesman in an interview that the soft-spoken Minister was not popular within the Muslim and Zongo communities and that her choice would not bring the much needed votes for a landslide victory for NPP. Hajia Alima told The Statesman in a brief interview last week that if chosen to partner Nana Addo, she would espouse his qualities saying, "He believes in the rule of law and the rights of the individual, just as I do". She underscored further, "I would ensure that women were brought into the mainstream of economic development". As to whether the running mate must come from the North, Alima said it was the prerogative of the Presidential Candidate to decide. She added however, that if it was about national unity and cohesion – bringing all people on board – then choosing a northerner would be good. According to her, she had worked in the rural communities in Ghana and so was well versed in developmental issues, Another name that has stayed in the reckoning is the Harbours and Railways Minister, Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi. His supporters argue that he meets the crucial criteria of party loyalty and commitment. Emmanuel Amoako-Mensah, a political analyst and an advocate for the Professor in respect of the running mate position, told this paper that "Nana Akufo-Addo and NPP should avoid the selection of the running mate based on religious and ethnic backgrounds and rather select an individual based on his her abilities and competence." Other reasons the advocate opined were that he carries along with him four major electoral groupings if he is considered for the position. These electoral constituencies are, Brong Ahafo, Central, Volta Regions and the academia. The explanation was that he hails from Techiman in Brong Ahafo Region and because of the proximity to the Northern parts of the country, he would serve their interest as a regional bloc and as a former lecturer and Provost at Cape Coast University, he commands a lot of respect in academia and in the Central region. In the Volta Region, the Professor of Zoology has been made Nkosuohene in Abotoasi, a fishing community where the NPP is making inroads. Also showing her willingness to accept the position if offered her, is Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, a professional journalist and role model for women in this country. In an exclusive interview with The Statesman, Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie, who sounded like a preacher, said she wouldn’t do anything without first seeking God’s face. "If God permits and I partner Nana Addo, He (God) will bring down His favour". She asserted that she would bring on board integrity and the wisdom of God. She would also help to establish business networks, being a businesswoman herself. Affenyi-Dadzie declined to comment on the idea of the running mate coming from the North. "We should consider everybody on his or her own merit, and look at the person’s strength", she charged. On electoral promises, the Council of State Member said certain things are doable and others are not; and so things that could be done could be promised. "Integrity is very important. Don’t promise things you cannot do", she cautioned. Gifty, a former President of the Ghana Journalists’ Association, gave the assurance that when given the nod, she would ensure that most of the floating voters were brought on brought on board to facilitate the NPP’s victory in December. At his recent encounter at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Nana Akufo-Addo intimated that his running mate would likely be a northern Moslem who is popular and competent, but he would be guided by other considerations as well. A three-member committee made up of Ama Busia, Prof Samuel Ofosu-Armah and C K Tedem, all elders of the party, were tasked by the Candidate to vet potential running mates. Our information indicates that they spoke to and assessed at least ten people. Source: The Statesman