Mr. Vanderpuye noted the Mr. Mahama is now taking advise from NDC elders like the Ahwoi brothers and Capt. Kojo Tsikata.

Mr. Mahama was also seen to have met with former President Jerry Rawlings a day before he declared his bid for the presidency again.

Mr. Vanderpuye explained on The Big Issue that these were indications Mr. Mahama was taking the Kwesi Botchway report on the NDC’s disastrous election 2016 seriously.

“There are some of the things that we captured under the Kwesi Botchwey committee that were outside the realm pertaining to his Presidency, his personality, what people were saying of him, why people voted against him and those ones were related to him so we handed it over to him.”

“I can assure you that before he took this decision [to contest for President], there has been very wide consultation with… some of these perceived elders who were sidelined, pushed back and all that.”

Mr. Vanderpuye also said all the NDC elders that backed late-President John Atta Mills are also actively involved with Mr. Mahama.

“He has been advised on certain things to do and as a human being, as humble and respectful as he is, he has listened to the elders, he has taken steps to make sure, that if those things are what led to that humiliating defeat, he is ready [to change],” the MP said.

Mahama’s declaration

Mr.Mahama said he owed God and the good people of Ghana the greatest responsibility of recapturing power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He made the remarks in a brief message posted on Facebook, after he officially sent his letter of intent to the party on Thursday, to contest the primaries of the NDC.

“Our collective victory in 2020 will end the increasing hardships, expand the base of our economy, create more sustainable jobs, ensure shared prosperity for all, and pursue good governance including peace, unity and security.”

“As a servant leader, I have listened with deep respect to the elders of our party, to members of our party and Ghanaians from all walks of life, and I am honoured to avail myself for truthful, transparent, selfless, unifying and dedicated service to the National Democratic Congress, and above all to the good people of Ghana.”

Mr. Mahama joins other high profile candidates within the NDC including the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah; Nadowli Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin.

Other candidates are Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah; a former Trade and Industry Minister; Former Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi and Cape Coast South MP, and Kweku Ricketts-Hagan.

The NDC has slated December 2018, for the election of its flagbearer for the 2020 presidential election.