Former president Mahama's efforts to win the next election will be in vain if he contests in 2020, the managing editor of the Daily Dispatch has said.
Ben Ephson, also an election pollster , said  Mahama will be heading into the election with a disorganised party, given the current tensions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking to Kasapa FM, Ephson said as a politically astute individual, he did not expect Mahama to contest in 2020.
"If ex-President Mahama has political experience, with the in-fighting in the NDC that is going to worsen in the period ahead, it’s a taking a horse for racing and after losing, the same horse which is sick is used for another racing contest. If he comes back as the flagbearer, he’s going to go into election 2020 with a weakened and disunited party. Should he decide to stage a comeback to lead the party I’ll be very surprised. It’s very unlikely he’ll come back," he said.
The NDC has been buffeted by in-fighting since the party lost the December elections.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP)’ Nana Akufo-Addo butchered Mahama in the presidential election, securing an impressive 53% of the valid vote cast while Mahama managed 44%.
In the parliamentary elections, the NPP also rallied to victory, winning 169 seats.
The NDC has since been engaged in blame game and finger pointing regarding the cause of the party’s defeat.
A committee chaired by Professor Kwesi Botchway has been set up to investigate the cause of the  defeat, and so far there have a number of reports, including allegations of mismanagement of campaign resources.
Some members of the party have also singled out Mahama for blaming, describing his administration as corrupt and incompetent.