A flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sylvester Adinam Mensah, says he has been with the party through its formative days, thus making him the “most senior of all the candidates contesting”.
Mr. Mensah and eight others have declared their intentions to contest the NDC flagbearership race scheduled for December 7, 2018.
Ahead of the elections, the candidates have been on a campaign trail selling their messages to party supporters.
The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) noted, however, that leadership, especially of the NDC, has more to do with competence, capacity, and experience than it has to do with seniority.
“Seniority alone does not determine leadership,” Mr. Mensah admitted Thursday on 3FM’s Sunrise in an interview with Winston Amoah.
Mr. Mensah explained that even though one of his contenders, Alban Bagbin, is one of the longest-serving Members of Parliament, he was part of the team that prepared the grounds for the party to be able to have parliamentary candidates.
“We were part of the team that heralded the formation of the party; we were part of the team that helped in the formation of the party. We were part of the team that incumbered (sic) the very first positions of the party in the regions and it was from then that we began to even look for parliamentary candidates and so the party found him [Alban Bagbin] but I was part of the formation of the party.
“So in terms of party seniority, I am the most senior of all the candidates who are contesting,” he stated.
The former NHIA boss is optimistic delegates will make a sound decision come December 7, when the party elects its 2020 flagbearer.
Contrary to the popular political maxim of “fear delegates”, Mr. Mensah said he does not fear delegates but has a lot of confidence in the choice they make.
“I have struck an accord with delegates and I have a lot of confidence in them. In any case, our delegates have never been wrong. I don’t fear delegates at all. They have never been wrong. If their judgment doesn’t favour you then know that it is not your time. I believe in their collective wisdom they have never been wrong in any of the elections. I am very confident that they will vote for me,” he said.
‘Adinam’
He also refuted claims made by the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a contender in the NDC flagbearership race that he recently added ‘Adinam’ to his name to help him win votes from the Volta Region.
According to him, ‘Adinam’ has always been his name except that he had always abbreviated it.
Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has conceded that some “wrongs” were committed under his leadership in the past, which makes it incumbent on the NDC to annex power in 2020 to “right” them.
WATCH: I owe a duty to God to win 2020 elections – Mahama
He said he has, therefore, “pondered deeply” and “reflected soberly” in taking a decision to lead the largest opposition party as its flagbearer into the next general elections.
By Helena Charway| 3news|Ghana
The post I’m most senior of all the candidates – Sylvester Mensah on NDC race appeared first on 3newsgh.
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