Amissah-Arthur Chosen Because He's Technocrat - Ben Ephson

Pollster and Managing Editor of Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson is of the belief that the nomination of Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Papa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as the Vice President was purely based on his foundation as a technocrat. Speaking in a phone interview on e.tv Ghana's flagship programme, Awake, Mr Ephson said he believes Mr Amissah-Arthur was selected out of the many names which popped up prior to his nomination because �the president feels he can work with him most comfortably.� He noted that: �Basically he selected the person he feels most comfortable with. If maybe after the analysis four or five of them are on the same level maybe in terms of competence and so on, I believe the one who won was the one the president feels he can work with most comfortably.� �I don�t think that the reason was more of economic but I think that it�s got to be of technocrat,� he added. Mr Ephson also noted that the likelihood of nominating Mr Amissah-Arthur because of his Fante background was high. He said: �Bear in mind that the Fante angle too was there. In 2008 Fantes were accused of voting on ethnic basis and that I think annoyed and irritated them more than anything else. Clearly the Fante factor was taken into consideration in selecting the running mate.� Asked by host Rashida Nasamu, whether the former President and Founder of the NDC, Mr Rawlings would necessarily have to approve the nomination of Mr Amissah-Arthur, he noted that, �Jerry Rawlings has kicked himself out of the campaign and the NDC sometime ago preferred itself to be without the Rawlingses.� �He has the choice to come on board or go with the New Democratic Party. I think it�s going to be very difficult if he comes on board the things he is going to say. He is in a pundery; like someone who has climbed a tree, the top is a snake, below is a lion. He has to decide the way to go.�