Former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has dispelled reports that he has endorsed a flagbearer hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alban Bagbin, to lead the party in the next election in 2020.
Julius Debrah, who was appointed Chief of Staff by former President John Mahama in a terse statement described the reports as untrue and urged members of the NDC to disregard it.
“My attention has been drawn to news reports of my supposed endorsement of Mr. Alban Bagbin to lead our great party, the National Democratic Congress, the NDC. Let me state emphatically that, I, Julius Debrah, have at no time either privately or publicly made any statements to suggest my endorsement or support for Mr. Bagbin,” he stated.
Some newspapers and news portals reported on Monday that Mr. Debrah had thrown his weight behind Alban Bagbin who is also Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament ahead the NDC’s primaries to elect a candidate for election 2020.
The newspapers suggested that Mr. Debrah decided to choose Bagbin ahead of his former boss, John Mahama, who is yet to publicly express his interest in the flagbearership race.
But Mr. Debrah in his statement denied the reports saying the media houses deliberately “twisted” his supposed warm reception he gave Bagbin during his [Julius Debrah’s] mother’s one-week commemoration, for undue political gain.
“It is unfortunate that a last-minute request by Mr. Bagbin after the one-week commemoration of my late mother to visit will be deliberately twisted for seeming political gain. He was warmly received just like all other dignitaries who came to mourn with my family. The news reports are false, and I wish to humbly urge all members and well-wishers of the NDC who have called expressing concern and surprise to kindly ignore the said reports,” he added.
Bagbin, others vie for NDC flagbearership slot
Several members of the NDC including Nadowli-Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, Dr. Spio-Garbrah, former NHIA boss, Sylvester Mensah, Joshua Alabi, former MP for La-Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale among others, have given indications they may contest the flagbearership position in the NDC.
Mahama still silent on 2020
Former President John Mahama has been tight-lipped on the NDC presidential ticket ever since he lost power to the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 general elections.
He has since then been helping in the party’s reorganization and healing process but has refused to declare his intentions to contest in the NDC’s primaries.
He however gave a hint in a Facebook post recently stating that:
“…the teeming supporters and sympathizers calling and requesting me to declare my intentions for the future, I wish to assure you today, which as a servant-leader, I have listened to your calls and reflected. I will not disappoint you even as we await the publication of the party’s guidelines for selecting a new leader.”.
