NDC Race: Mahama walks in Kumasi, Prof Alabi campaigns in Western Region

Ahead of the presidential primaries to select a leading member of the NDC wwho will represent the party in the 2020 elections as it's torch bearer, developments indicate there is intense engagement of the party membership and that various campaigning strategies are being implemented by the aspirants.

Professor Joshua Alabi, the former Vice Chancellor of UPSA and his campaign team have been seen and heard in the western region, this week, whilst the former President, John Mahama is reported to have arrived in Kumasi with his entourage for tomorrow's Ashanti Region Unity Walk. As usual, the former President and his assigns are expected to bus party members from places all over the Ashanti region, in order to give a spectacle desired by the former President.

Just before then, the commercial capital of the Western Region, Takoradi also saw the arrival of Prof Joshua Alabi, one of the contestants of the NDC Presidential primaries.

He was also heard campaigning on a number of radio stations on Wednesday and Thursday in the Western Region.

Speaking on Connect FM in Takoradi, on Thursday late afternoon, the former Vice Chancellor touted his leadership credentials which led to the transformation of the then Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) to a world class university, UPSA.

He also confirmed his Presidential ambitions and explained his vision for Ghana. He identified himself as a grassroots politician and expressed confidence that He will win the slot and put the NDC party foot soldiers at the centre of his governance.

The NDC stalwart was interviewed in the studios of Connect FM, Skyy Power FM, Melody FM and other stations in the metropolis.

During the interviews, He did not miss any opportunity to score the NPP government low marks, claiming that the NDC is coming back to power under his watch in 2020.

A regional executive of the NDC who also called into the radio discussion, on Connect FM, confirmed media reports that the academic and politician had gone round some constituencies in the region campaigning.

The Western Regional Deputy Communication Officer of the NDC, Mr Kirk Mensah, after series of listeners had called into the program to praise the Professor and assure him of their support, also praised the aspirant for his candour and quality of message. He however complained that the Western Regional Executives of the party were not informed of the tour in the region.

Media men in Sekondi Takoradi got wind of the arrival of the former Vice Chancellor, when he was reported to have granted in studio interviews to radio stations in Prestea, Bogoso, Tarkwa, Ellembelle, and other areas in the region.

According to the Regional Executive, Prof Alabi did meet party members in each of the constituencies visited, and that the organisation of the visit, he thought, should have been done by them, the Regional Executives.

Prof Joshua Alabi in response to the concerns of the Regional Executive said he will engage the official structures of the party, including the Regional Executives when nominations are officially opened for aspirants.

Checks revealed that the learned Professor had secret meetings with some party elders in the various constituencies including chiefs.

Information gleaned from members of the Professor Alabi Campaign team said the meetings that the hopeful had with the party grassroots were also private and 'overwhelmingly successful".

Some leading members of the NDC are said to have worked behind the scenes to arrange the Western Region tour for the Professor, and are pulling strings to ensure he wins some critical influences in the west region, even before nominations are opened.