Bawumia’s running mate palaver: Big names pop up with their profiles.
Since the election of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as New Patriotic Party flagbearer on 4th November 2023, several names have come up as potential running mates.
Connectghananews.com was the first portal to release the list of names from the grapevine which included Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy among others.
Since that publication new names have reportedly also come up in discussions inside the corridors of power although some names are said to be “Frontline”.
A name that has come up closely is Isaac Osei. Sources told the website that Vice President Bawumia has visited Isaac Osei at home a couple of times for private conversations before the August and November party Primaries and the two have an “excellent relationship” it was gathered.
It is not clear whether the two discussed the ticket of the NPP in 2024 but voices in government consider Isaac Osei a “spent force” who may not be able to galvanize Ashanti votes at this time for Bawumia and the NPP although he is a former Subin MP.
Isaac Osei was born on March 29, 1951, at Ashanti Newtown in the Ashanti Region, Kumasi.
He attended the State Primary School in Kumasi from 1957 to 1960 and thereafter attended Achimota Primary School from 1960 to 1963 followed by Achimota School same year. After completing Achimota School in 1970, he studied at the University of Ghana, Legon where he graduated with B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Economics in 1973. He further studied Mathematics and Statistics at the Economics Institute at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA. Isaac Osei, in addition, holds a master’s degree in Development Economics, from Williams College in Massachusetts, USA from 1976 to 1977.
He began his career at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Ghana where he worked at the Industry, Mining and Forestry Division prior to moving into the Macro- Economic Section of the Ministry. He founded Ghanexim Economic Consultants Ltd and consulted for the World Bank, USAID and the Ghana Government on several projects in Ghana. Mr. Osei was also the managing director for E.K Osei & Engineers & Contractors Company, as well as Intravenous Infusions Ltd, the largest manufacturer of intravenous infusions and small volume injectable in West Africa. Osei is an economist by profession. He is currently the chairman of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. He was previously the Managing director of Tema oil Refinery and the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana CoCoa Board
John Kumah is said to be seriously lobbying for the running mate with the assistance of the Akyem faction of the party.
The Akyem faction, Rumours say, consider John Kumah loyal and trustworthy to do their bidding as Vice President should they win the 2024 election.
Sources say John Kumah was elevated from NEIP CEO to Deputy Finance Minister in preparation for the role of running mate to Bawumia by his godfathers.
John Kumah’s wife who is a pastor is said to embarking on fasting and prayers to give her husband an advantage. His lobbying team are using his wife as a strong case for his selection because Bawumia is a Muslim.
John Kumah’s critics say he is not well-known in the Ashanti Region compared to some other names that have come up. They accuse of him of lnot knowing how to talk”.
He is also considered to be a part of the failed economic team of the Akufo-Addo government and may have problems being accepted by Ghanaians in general.
John Kumah was born on 4th August 1978. He hails from Ejisu Odaho, a farming community in the Ejisu municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
He attended Opoku Ware School in Kumasi and continued to the University of Ghana (Legon) in 1997 and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Philosophy.
In 2009, he was awarded an MBA (Finance) from GIMPA. He later earned a Degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Ghana and a Professional Law Degree (BL) from the Ghana School of Law in 2013.
In November 2020, John Ampontuah Kumah received a Doctorate in Business Innovation from the Swiss Business School in Switzerland. He also has a Masters in Applied Research (Business Innovation) from the same institution.
He is a founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers; a Law Firm located in Accra. He also worked as the founder of Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction company, until his appointment as the CEO of NEIP in 2017.
Henry Kwabena Kokofu is a lawyer who is current CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He is said to be one of the forces who worked for the victory of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and maintains a close relationship with him.
His name has come up as a less controversial choice available for Bawumia to choose.
However, his failure together with Asenso Boakye to deliver a convincing win for Bawumia in Bantama is being used against him internally in the party.
Kokofu was born on 5 October 1960. He hails from Adiebeba-Kumasi, a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management in 1971. In 2007, he acquired a Master of Science degree in Agroforestry from the same university. He also attended Ghana School of Law and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in law. He is an old student of Kumasi high school.
Kokofu served as the member of parliament for Bantama for one term..
A popular name that has come up is Osei Yaw Adutwum. He is considered to be tied with Mathew Opoku Prempeh in the possible shortlist of names under consideration for the running mate.
The former Deputy Education Minister has been quietly lobbying supporters for his bid holding meetings in his office.
Like Kokofu, critics of Adutwum say he lacks control in his own Bosomtwe backyard.
During the November 4 primary, he failed to give the Vice President a big win despite having Regional Minister and Ashanti Regional NPP from same Constituency. His Constituents say he is “Chisel”.
Adutwum hails from Jachie in the Ashanti region. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Land Economy (Business Administration with a major in Real Estate) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology prior to migrating to the USA. He also holds a master’s degree in Education Management from the University of La Verne and a PhD in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California. He had his secondary education at Kumasi High School in Ashanti Region-Ghana where he received his Advanced level education certificate.
In September 2004, he founded the New Designs Charter Schools in Carlifonia, USA. Prior to that, he worked as a Mathematics and Information Technology teacher at the Manual Arts High School for ten years, and within this period, he founded the International Studies Academy, which served as a small learning community for students.
On 9 September 2021, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the Capacity Building Center (CBC) in the School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Frema Opare
The mother of 4 who is married to Dr. Kwadwo Dua Opare has said she won’t retire from politics any time soon.
The Chief of Staff is lobbying to gain the backing of President Akufo-Addo and the Akyem faction to join the Bawumia ticket as running mate.
The Chief of Staff has been reportedly meeting media and other stakeholders through surrogates to push her agenda as running mate.
Frema was born on 5th June 1947 and hails from Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
She attended St. Monica’s Secondary School, Mampong- Ashanti. She had her bachelor’s degree in Home Science from the University of Ghana. She proceeded to University of Guelph for a master’s degree in Food Science
Frema lectured at the University of Ghana as a lecturer at the Department of Home Science from 1976 to 1982. She eventually became the Head of department. She has also worked with the United Nations in the Women In Fisheries project in various capacities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo and Namibia.[8] Frema in 2005 – 2008 worked under the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor as the Deputy Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment. She also once served a two term office as the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon from 2005 to 2013.
Nana Ayew Afriye made case for consideration after he won the highest percentage vote gap for the Vice President in the Ashanti Region.
He is the member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Effiduase-Asokore Constituency in the Ashanti Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party and was leader of the Ashanti MPs’ Caucus got Bawumia.
He obtained an MB ChB, a B.S.C and an MA from the University of Ghana, an MPH from the University of Leeds U.K, and a postgraduate certificate from the Oxford University U.K.
Nana Ayew Afriye was a Medical Officer at the Ridge Hospital from 2004 to 2007 and Castle Clinic from 2007 to 2009, the Institutional Public Health Head at the Ridge Hospital between 2011 and 2012, and the C.E.O of St.John’s Medical and Fertility Centre from 2012.
His backers say he is clean and lacks any public controversy which makes him fit for the role of Vice President.
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