Sylvester Mensah laughs off MPs endorsement of Mahama, says he’s unwavered

Flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sylvester Mensah, has laughed off the supposed endorsement of John Mahama by some of the party’s MPs, stating he is not moved by that decision.

A total of 94 Members of Parliament in the NDC have reportedly endorsed Mahama for the party’s flagbearership. At least one of the MPs has since said he was tricked into signing the supposed endorsement sheet.

MP for Odododiodo, Edwin Nii Lantey Vandapuye, argued the endorsement stemmed from the fact that the former president who lost the 2016 election to Nana Akufo-Addo, is the only candidate who can lead the party to victory in the next elections.

But Mr. Mensah told Onua FM Wednesday that “popularity is not the same as the love from delegates. Some of us are not moved at all because there is no doubt that among the MPs; some may have their preferred candidates”.

The former Chief Executive Officer for the National Health Insurance Authority said there are more serious issues in the NDC that needs to be addressed than endorsements of candidates, arguing such endorsements have not helped the party in the past.

“Let us wait for our primaries in November and see the outcome because this is not a critical issue in the NDC. Let us not waste our time on it. There are more important issues in the NDC than this” he told Bright Kwesi Asempa on the ‘Yen Sempa’ morning show.

Member of Parliament Odododiodo, Mr. Vanderpuje said “94 MPs have faithfully and critically endorsed our former President, John Mahama, to be the candidate once again”.

But Mr Mensah has asked supporters and members of the NDC to disregard the supposed endorsement of former President John Mahama as the best person to lead the party into the 2020 general elections.

According to him, “Since yesterday, at least 10 MPs have called me, asking me to disregard the publication”

“Politics is often full of gimmick and it is to seek popularity but some of these gimmicks led to the defeat of the party in the 2016 elections,” he observed.

Mr. Mensah further said “we have seen how regional chairmen who went to sign endorsement have been endangered in their own areas so let us focus on campaigning…rather than media gimmick.

Several members of the NDC including Nadowli-Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, Dr. Spio-Garbrah and Joshua Alabi, have all given indications they will contest the flagbearership position in the NDC.